Black American pregnant women with lower choline levels delivered prematurely by two weeks, increasing the risk of later mental health problems like attention deficit disorder for their offspring, stated University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers.
Choline is the key nutrient that aids in prenatal brain development. The study published in Schizophrenia Bulletin revealed that reduced choline levels were associated with higher stress hormone cortisol levels.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects normal behavior and impairs the ability to concentrate.
Advertisement
‘In pregnant Black American women, reduced levels of choline were associated with increased levels of stress.’
Tweet it Now
Increased stress hormone cortisol induced the mother to hold choline in her liver instead of delivering it to the baby.
"One of the possible causes of higher cortisol and lower choline levels in Black American women is the burden of institutional racism and the chronic subconscious stress that it causes," said Robert Freedman, MD, professor of psychiatry at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and the study's lead researcher.
![Anticholinergic Drugs Raise Mortality Risk in Dementia Patients]( "Anticholinergic Drugs Raise Mortality Risk in Dementia Patients")
Anticholinergic drugs significantly increase the risk of mortality in people with dementia, as per the study led by researchers from Queen's University Belfast.
Choline and Stress Link: Studies
A sample of 183 pregnant women, with 25 self-identified Black women was surveyed. In Black women, choline levels were lower than those of white women from the same neighborhoods.
The study also examined 166 pregnant Black women in Uganda. Choline levels obtained from the participants were higher than Black American levels, indicating that high-stress levels rather than ancestry contributes to low choline levels in Black American women.
In a separate clinical trial with 100 pregnant women, 50 women, of whom seven were Black, received a phosphatidylcholine supplement to raise their choline levels.
Fifty received a placebo; eight of them were Black. Both groups received instruction on how to increase choline in their diets. In the seven Black women who took choline supplements, premature birth was prevented.
The same was not observed in the eight who received a placebo. By age four, their children had fewer problems with attention and social behavior with others.
"We hope to get the word out, to all women and especially to stressed, pregnant Black women, that taking supplemental choline, in addition to the prenatal vitamins they already take, can significantly improve outcomes for their children," said Freedman.
Choline Rich Foods
Anticholinergic Drugs Raise Mortality Risk in Dementia Patients
Anticholinergic drugs significantly increase the risk of mortality in people with dementia, as per the study led by researchers from Queen's University Belfast.
Advertisement
Choline and Stress Link: Studies
A sample of 183 pregnant women, with 25 self-identified Black women was surveyed. In Black women, choline levels were lower than those of white women from the same neighborhoods.
The study also examined 166 pregnant Black women in Uganda. Choline levels obtained from the participants were higher than Black American levels, indicating that high-stress levels rather than ancestry contributes to low choline levels in Black American women.
In a separate clinical trial with 100 pregnant women, 50 women, of whom seven were Black, received a phosphatidylcholine supplement to raise their choline levels.
Fifty received a placebo; eight of them were Black. Both groups received instruction on how to increase choline in their diets. In the seven Black women who took choline supplements, premature birth was prevented.
The same was not observed in the eight who received a placebo. By age four, their children had fewer problems with attention and social behavior with others.
"We hope to get the word out, to all women and especially to stressed, pregnant Black women, that taking supplemental choline, in addition to the prenatal vitamins they already take, can significantly improve outcomes for their children," said Freedman.
Choline Rich Foods
- Choline prevents neural tube birth defects in newborns.
- Beef and chicken liver
- Egg
- Mushrooms
- Shrimps
- Milk
- Broccoli
- Peanut butter
Quiz on Symptoms and Signs of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a happy as well as an anxious time for women, especially first-time mothers. Test your knowledge on the symptoms and signs of pregnancy by taking this quiz.
Advertisement
 Attention Deficits may Arise from Brain Damage After StrokeImpaired brain pathways may be the cause of attention deficit problems after stroke. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Women Health News
Laser speckle wearable gadget helps in the early detection of postpartum hemorrhage, potentially reducing maternal mortality rates.
More than 90% of previously unexplained pregnancy losses or miscarriages were accurately determined by placental testing.
Fetal growth restriction impacts around 60,000 infants annually in Europe and the United States.
For women under 40, trying to conceive, timing intercourse around the fertile period using a urine ovulation test increases the chances of pregnancy.
Oophorectomy's adverse effects raise questions about risk-benefit balance, especially for average ovarian cancer risk women.
