Pregnant women have a new reason to add more eggs, beef and broccoli to their diets. New research by Cornell University has found increased intake of the nutrient choline during pregnancy can decrease their children's chances of developing diabetes and high blood pressure later in life.
The study, led by Marie Caudill, analyzed a group of third-trimester pregnant women who consumed 930 milligrams daily of choline -- more than double the recommended 450 milligrams.
As a result, their babies had 33 percent lower concentrations of cortisol – a stress hormone that also increases blood sugar – compared women who consumed about 480 milligrams of choline.
Caudill said the benefits were likely due to genetic changes choline induced involving cortisol production.
The study, published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, is the first research to suggest choline may "program" key biological processes in an unborn child.
"The study findings raise the exciting possibility that a higher maternal choline intake may counter some of the adverse effects of prenatal stress on behavioral, neuroendocrine and metabolic development in the offspring," Caudill said. "A dampening of the baby's response to stress as a result of mom consuming extra choline during pregnancy would be expected to reduce the risk of stress-related diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes throughout the life of the child."
This could be especially useful for women who suffer anxiety and depression during pregnancy, as well as conditions such as pre-eclampsia.
Key dietary sources of choline include egg yolks, beef, pork, chicken, milk, legumes and some vegetables. Most prenatal vitamin supplements do not include choline.