Choline Supplementation During Pregnancy: Impact on Attention and Social Withdrawal

Child Development Clinical Trial

Official title:

Double-blind Trial of Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation During Pregnancy: Impact on Attention and Social Withdrawal at 4 Years of Age

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03028857
• Other study ID #: 16-1510
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: June 12, 2017
• Est. completion date: December 2026

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: University of Colorado, Denver
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal is to determine if providing a nutritional supplement, phosphatidylcholine, to pregnant women improves early brain development with improved brain-related development during the first four years of life. Participating pregnant women will receive either phosphatidylcholine or a placebo from approximately 16 weeks gestation through birth. The primary outcome is the child's behavior at four years of age as reported by the primary caregiver. Secondary outcomes include motor development, socio-emotional development, language development, and cognitive development. Potential contributors beyond the supplement, including maternal stress and placental function will also be assessed.

Description:

Choline is an essential nutrient that can be found in foods, such as egg yolks, liver, and other meats. It is important for the composition and repair of normal cellular membranes, normal brain function, and normal cardiovascular function. Research has suggested that the presence of adequate amounts of choline during pregnancy and breastfeeding can help ensure healthy fetal brain development. Additionally, adequate prenatal choline levels may have long-lasting positive effects on cognitive function, including memory. However, sufficient research has not been done on the effects of choline on pregnant women and their unborn babies. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of taking choline supplements during pregnancy, and whether taking choline during pregnancy will have an effect on infant development. Participants in this double-blind study will be randomly assigned to receive either placebo or 1250 mg of choline daily throughout pregnancy, until delivery. Vital signs will be taken, potential side effects will be assessed, and study medication will be given at each visit. Blood samples will be taken at enrollment and approximately at weeks 20, 28, 32. Children will be followed and assessed until 4 years of age.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 600
• Est. completion date: December 2026
• Est. primary completion date: December 2026
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• General Health: Other than pregnancy related illnesses, physically healthy expectant mothers
• ages 18-45 years
• prepregnancy BMI>18 and <45

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior history of fetal death
• Current personal history of chronic infections, including HIV
• Current personal or family history out to first degree relatives of

1. Trimethylaminuria

2. Homocystinuria

• Primary language other than English or Spanish
• Evidence of noncompliance

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Child Development
• Prenatal Stress

Intervention

Drug:
• Choline
Mothers are instructed to take the capsules twice a day, five 450 mg phosphatidylcholine capsules at breakfast and five phosphatidylcholine 450 mg capsules at dinner. Increased awareness into the benefits of choline by obstetricians and pregnant women, as well as our recently published results from an observational study showing a wide distribution of serum choline concentrations in pregnant women, suggest that serum choline concentration is a more apt independent variable for analyses.

Dietary Supplement:
• Placebo
Mothers are instructed to take the capsules twice a day, five placebo corn oil capsules at breakfast and five placebo corn oil capsules at dinner. Increased awareness into the benefits of choline by obstetricians and pregnant women, as well as our recently published results from an observational study showing a wide distribution of serum choline concentrations in pregnant women, suggest that serum choline concentration is a more apt independent variable for analyses.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	UCHealth	Aurora	Colorado
United States	Saint Joseph Hospital	Denver	Colorado

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Colorado, Denver

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Ross RG, Hunter SK, Hoffman MC, McCarthy L, Chambers BM, Law AJ, Leonard S, Zerbe GO, Freedman R. Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation. Am J Psychiatry. 2016 May 1;173(5):509-16. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091188. Epub 2015 Dec 7. Erratum In: Am J Psychiatry. 2016 Jul 1;173(7):735. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Behavior rated on the Child Behavior Checklist.	Our primary behavioral outcome is behavior as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist at 4 years of age.	4 Years of age