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Essential nutrient found in eggs may help lower risk of neural tube defects
August 12, 2009Research published online in the journal Epidemiology found that higher levels of total blood choline are associated with a 2.5-fold reduction in risk for neural tube birth defects (NTDs).(1) NTDs are birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, and the two most common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 3,000 pregnancies in the U.S. are affected by NTDs each year.(2,3) This study adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the important role of choline in fetal development.
Study Findings
The Epidemiology study investigated blood samples from more than 180,000 pregnant women and found 80 cases of NTDs. Researchers compared the blood samples to samples from 409 controls without birth defects and examined the specimens for markers including choline, folate, homocysteine, methionine and betaine among others. The researchers observed:
* a 2.5-fold reduction in risk for NTDs with the highest blood choline levels
* no other significant differences between the two study groups for any of the other blood markers
In the research discussion, the investigators note that the cause of NTDs is very complex and that supplementation of the food supply with folic acid, though effective, is only part of the solution. "This study is exciting because it offers new clues for preventing serious birth defects like spina bifida," said Dr. Gary M. Shaw, co-author of the study and professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. "This research should be repeated in other settings so we can learn more about the best nutrition advice to give pregnant women."
The Benefits of Choline
Choline is an essential nutrient needed for many of life's most basic functions including brain and nerve function, liver metabolism, the transportation of nutrients and the normal functioning of every cell in the body. Adequate choline intake is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women because it has been shown to influence prenatal and infant brain and spinal cord development as well as lifelong memory and learning functions. There is a high rate of choline transfer from mother to fetus and breast milk is also rich in choline, so meeting maternal choline needs is very important.
Emerging research also shows that choline may have additional benefits in areas such as:
* Memory function: Animal studies have demonstrated that age-associated memory decline seems to be delayed in offspring when mothers' diets are supplemented with choline during pregnancy.(4)
* Breast cancer prevention: A study funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the risk of developing breast cancer was 24 percent lower among women with the highest intake of choline compared to women with the lowest intake.(5)
* Cardiovascular health: Choline has been shown to play an important role in reducing homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that may be associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammation, which is considered a risk factor for heart disease.(6)
Closing the Choline Consumption Gap
Despite its important role in the body, only one in 10 Americans is meeting the Adequate Intake (AI) guidelines for choline.(7) "Most people don't know how important choline is for their bodies, or how easy it is to get the choline you need from food," explains Elizabeth Ward, a registered dietitian in private practice and author of the new book "Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy." Ward, who is not affiliated with Stanford, also notes "One large egg can help meet roughly one-quarter of the recommended daily intake of choline for men, women and women who are pregnant or nursing."
For those looking to add more choline to their diet, Ward offers these additional tips:
* Focus on Foods: Most prenatal and regular multivitamins provide far less than the AI for choline. The easiest way to get the choline you need is by eating a balanced diet rich in foods that contain choline such as eggs, lean beef, salmon, cauliflower, milk and peanut butter.
* Don't Skip the Yolk: Choline is found exclusively in the egg yolk, and one yolk contains 125 milligrams of choline. The egg yolk also contains nearly half the protein in an egg, and the yolk is the only place you'll find the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin which are important antioxidants related to eye health. While eggs contain a small amount of lutein and zeaxanthin, research suggests that these nutrients may be more bioavailable from eggs than from richer sources.
###
Looking for More Information?
For more information on the nutritional importance of choline, visit www.CholineInfo.org. Also visit the Egg Nutrition Center at www.enc-online.org for information on the health benefits of eggs and visit the American Egg Board at www.incredibleegg.org for nutritious egg recipes and preparation tips.
About the American Egg Board (AEB)
AEB is the U.S. egg producer's link to the consumer in communicating the value of The incredible edible egg™ and is funded from a national legislative checkoff on all egg production from companies with greater than 75,000 layers, in the continental United States. The board consists of 18 members and 18 alternates from all regions of the country who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The AEB staff carries out the programs under the board direction. AEB is located in Park Ridge, Ill. Visit www.incredibleegg.org for more information.
About the Egg Nutrition Center (ENC)
The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) is the health education and research center of the American Egg Board. Established in 1979, ENC provides science-based information to health promotion agencies, physicians, dietitians, nutritional scientists, media and consumers on issues related to egg nutrition and the role of eggs in the American diet. ENC is located in Washington, DC. Visit www.enc-online.org for more information.
(1)Shaw, Gary M. et al. Choline and risk of neural tube defects in a folate-fortified population. Epidemiology; published online July 10, 2009. Paper to be published September 2009.
(2)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Folic Acid Data and Statistics (March 13, 2009). Retrieved on July 29, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/data.html.
(3)Mercereau, P., et al. Spina Bifida and Anencephaly Before and After Folic Acid Mandate-United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, volume 53, number 17, May 7, 2004, pages 362-365.
(4)Zeisel SH. Choline: Needed for normal development of memory: JACN 2000; 19 (5); 528S-531S.
(5)Xu X. Choline metabolism and risk of breast cancer in a population-based study. FASEB 2008; 22:1-8.
(6)Cho E, et al. Dietary choline and betaine assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma total homocysteine concentration in the Framingham Offspring Study. AJCN 2006; 83: 905-11.
(7)Jensen HH, et al. Choline in the diets of the US population: NHANES, 2003-2004. Abstract presented at Experimental Biology 2007. Paper in publication.
Egg Nutrition News Bureau
* no other significant differences between the two study groups for any of the other blood markers
In the research discussion, the investigators note that the cause of NTDs is very complex and that supplementation of the food supply with folic acid, though effective, is only part of the solution. "This study is exciting because it offers new clues for preventing serious birth defects like spina bifida," said Dr. Gary M. Shaw, co-author of the study and professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. "This research should be repeated in other settings so we can learn more about the best nutrition advice to give pregnant women."
The Benefits of Choline
Choline is an essential nutrient needed for many of life's most basic functions including brain and nerve function, liver metabolism, the transportation of nutrients and the normal functioning of every cell in the body. Adequate choline intake is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women because it has been shown to influence prenatal and infant brain and spinal cord development as well as lifelong memory and learning functions. There is a high rate of choline transfer from mother to fetus and breast milk is also rich in choline, so meeting maternal choline needs is very important.
Emerging research also shows that choline may have additional benefits in areas such as:
* Memory function: Animal studies have demonstrated that age-associated memory decline seems to be delayed in offspring when mothers' diets are supplemented with choline during pregnancy.(4)
* Breast cancer prevention: A study funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the risk of developing breast cancer was 24 percent lower among women with the highest intake of choline compared to women with the lowest intake.(5)
* Cardiovascular health: Choline has been shown to play an important role in reducing homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that may be associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammation, which is considered a risk factor for heart disease.(6)
Closing the Choline Consumption Gap
Despite its important role in the body, only one in 10 Americans is meeting the Adequate Intake (AI) guidelines for choline.(7) "Most people don't know how important choline is for their bodies, or how easy it is to get the choline you need from food," explains Elizabeth Ward, a registered dietitian in private practice and author of the new book "Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy." Ward, who is not affiliated with Stanford, also notes "One large egg can help meet roughly one-quarter of the recommended daily intake of choline for men, women and women who are pregnant or nursing."
For those looking to add more choline to their diet, Ward offers these additional tips:
* Focus on Foods: Most prenatal and regular multivitamins provide far less than the AI for choline. The easiest way to get the choline you need is by eating a balanced diet rich in foods that contain choline such as eggs, lean beef, salmon, cauliflower, milk and peanut butter.
* Don't Skip the Yolk: Choline is found exclusively in the egg yolk, and one yolk contains 125 milligrams of choline. The egg yolk also contains nearly half the protein in an egg, and the yolk is the only place you'll find the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin which are important antioxidants related to eye health. While eggs contain a small amount of lutein and zeaxanthin, research suggests that these nutrients may be more bioavailable from eggs than from richer sources.
###
Looking for More Information?
For more information on the nutritional importance of choline, visit www.CholineInfo.org. Also visit the Egg Nutrition Center at www.enc-online.org for information on the health benefits of eggs and visit the American Egg Board at www.incredibleegg.org for nutritious egg recipes and preparation tips.
About the American Egg Board (AEB)
AEB is the U.S. egg producer's link to the consumer in communicating the value of The incredible edible egg™ and is funded from a national legislative checkoff on all egg production from companies with greater than 75,000 layers, in the continental United States. The board consists of 18 members and 18 alternates from all regions of the country who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The AEB staff carries out the programs under the board direction. AEB is located in Park Ridge, Ill. Visit www.incredibleegg.org for more information.
About the Egg Nutrition Center (ENC)
The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) is the health education and research center of the American Egg Board. Established in 1979, ENC provides science-based information to health promotion agencies, physicians, dietitians, nutritional scientists, media and consumers on issues related to egg nutrition and the role of eggs in the American diet. ENC is located in Washington, DC. Visit www.enc-online.org for more information.
(1)Shaw, Gary M. et al. Choline and risk of neural tube defects in a folate-fortified population. Epidemiology; published online July 10, 2009. Paper to be published September 2009.
(2)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Folic Acid Data and Statistics (March 13, 2009). Retrieved on July 29, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/data.html.
(3)Mercereau, P., et al. Spina Bifida and Anencephaly Before and After Folic Acid Mandate-United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, volume 53, number 17, May 7, 2004, pages 362-365.
(4)Zeisel SH. Choline: Needed for normal development of memory: JACN 2000; 19 (5); 528S-531S.
(5)Xu X. Choline metabolism and risk of breast cancer in a population-based study. FASEB 2008; 22:1-8.
(6)Cho E, et al. Dietary choline and betaine assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma total homocysteine concentration in the Framingham Offspring Study. AJCN 2006; 83: 905-11.
(7)Jensen HH, et al. Choline in the diets of the US population: NHANES, 2003-2004. Abstract presented at Experimental Biology 2007. Paper in publication.
Egg Nutrition News Bureau
Neural Tube Defects Current Events and Neural Tube Defects News RSSIrish-led research team rule out link between specific antibodies and spina bifida
New research, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that a woman's risk of having a child with a neural tube defect (NTD), such as Spina Bifida, is not linked to folic acid related auto-antibodies.
Some neural tube defects in mice linked to enzyme deficiency
Women of childbearing age can reduce the risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida by eating enough folate or folic acid. However, folate prevents only about 70 percent of these defects.
Folic acid to prevent congenital heart defects
The Canadian policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects.
Reducing Health Risks for Women and Children: American Dietetic Association Releases Position Paper on Obesity, Reproduction and Pregnancy Outcomes
Diet and nutrition counseling for virtually all overweight and obese women of childbearing age can reduce health risks associated with excess weight for mothers and children alike, according to a newly released position paper from the American Dietetic Association and the American Society of Nutrition.
Immigrant women may be at higher risk of having a baby with a birth defect
Immigrant women are less likely to use folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent spina bifida, particularly those who recently immigrated to the country, according to a new study led by a St. Michael's Hospital physician in collaboration with Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the University of Toronto.
Low levels of vitamin B12 may increase risk for neural tube defects
Children born to women who have low blood levels of vitamin B12 shortly before and after conception may have an increased risk of a neural tube defect, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Trinity College Dublin, and the Health Research Board of Ireland.
Scientists discover why teeth form in a single row
A system of opposing genetic forces determines why mammals develop a single row of teeth, while sharks sport several, according to a study published today in the journal Science. When completely understood, the genetic program described in the study may help guide efforts to re-grow missing teeth and prevent cleft palate, one of the most common birth defects.
Hairspray is linked to common genital birth defect, says study
Women who are exposed to hairspray in the workplace during pregnancy have more than double the risk of having a son with the genital birth defect hypospadias, according to a new study published today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
SNPs affect folate metabolism in study of Puerto-Rican adults
Researchers at Tufts University have gained further understanding of the genomic basis for altered folate metabolism and the content of uracil in blood DNA.
Folic acid, B vitamins do not appear to affect cancer risk
A daily supplementation combination that included folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 had no significant effect on the overall risk of cancer, including breast cancer, among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study in the November 5 issue of JAMA.
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