Study Reveals Pregnant Women Can Prevent Fetal Brain Problems Caused by Influenza – ScienceDaily

The study, published today in the Journal of Pediatrics, is led by members of the University of Colorado's Faculty of Medicine at CU Anschutz Medical Campus. The results are critical because viruses, such as influenza, in pregnant women, have been badociated with fetal brain problems and mental illnesses such as attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia later in life. life.

"Mothers want to give their baby the best possible start in life, colds and flu are often unavoidable, even if the mother has had a flu shot, but colds and flu during pregnancy doubles the risk of mental illness "More and more information shows that choline helps the baby's brain develop properly," said Robert Freedman, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado's Faculty of Medicine. "We found that higher levels of choline prevented fetal brain problems, even when the mother was infected.Choline supplements during pregnancy can have a lifelong benefit for the infant."

The study was conducted at the prenatal clinic of the University of Colorado and the Denver Health Medical Center, with prenatal badessments of maternal infection, C-reactive protein (CRP, marker maternal inflammation) and maternal choline levels. The cerebral development of the baby before birth was evaluated by measuring the brain waves of the baby shortly after birth. The adverse effects of maternal infections have been observed in a reduction of normal inhibition, also called inhibition of response, from brain waves of the newborn to repeated sounds. In simple terms, the inhibition of the response is the ability to stop or delay an action and to be able to think rather than display impulsive behavior.

• Children whose mothers were infected and had lower choline levels had a significantly reduced ability to pay attention, play softly and cuddle with their parents. These effects did not occur if the mother had higher choline levels.
• These features are summarized in a self-regulation scale, which was reduced by 28% in children of women with infection and lower choline levels. Higher choline levels improved self-regulation in children of infected women at normal levels.
• Five of the 53 children whose mothers were infected (9.4%) had regulatory levels located in the lowest fifth percentile of a normal sample, compared to one of 83 children of non-mothers. infected. This effect did not occur if their mother had a choline level greater than 7 micromolar during pregnancy. This level was only reached by 25% of women, despite the incentives to consume foods containing more choline.

The body itself produces choline and is naturally present in certain foods, including liver, red meat and eggs. However, up to 75% of pregnant women consume less choline during pregnancy than is recommended (450 mg of choline a day). In addition, prenatal vitamins contain little or no at all. Supplements, available without a prescription and now recommended by the American Medical Association, can help mothers make sure their baby has a high choline level.

This study was designed and initiated by the late Randal G. Ross.

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Material provided by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Original written by Julia Milzer. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.