A group of Canadian nutrition researchers are seeking to raise people's awareness of their needs for the essential nutrient Choline - especially in women who are planning a pregnancy, who are pregnant, or breastfeeding (though research also suggests that high choline levels during the first 3 years of life may have significant benefits on the brain health of a child - see earlier posts on this topic). 

"Despite its apparent health benefits, few Albertans seem to be getting enough choline in their diets, the researchers have found.

"Our preliminary dietary studies clearly show an insufficient choline intake compared to the recommended levels," said Curtis, an analytical chemist and project leader for ongoing choline research at the university.

According to the Institute of Medicine, women should consume 425 milligrams of choline per day--the equivalent of almost four whole eggs. This value is higher for men and pregnant women.

In an ongoing study looking at the nutrition of pregnant women in Edmonton and Calgary, few study participants are meeting the adequate intake for choline and only one of the first 600 women surveyed reported taking a supplement that contained the nutrient.

This statistic is surprising, says Field, given that 97 per cent of women reported consuming at least one supplement.

"Nobody's taking it," Field said. "If there was information out there on choline, we'd see a lot more of it in this group we had."

In a continuing animal study, Field and her team are looking at the effects of choline during lactation--a nutiritionally critical period, but one not well studied.

"It's the most nutritionally stressful period for a woman," Field said. "Her nutritional needs are far greater than during pregnancy because she has to produce milk, an important source of choline, for this growing infant."

New mother rats were fed diets with varying amounts of choline. The amount they consumed appeared to influence the health of their pups.

"The pups that were fed from the moms who didn't have the choline in the diet survived didn't grow as well," Field said. "If there's a decrease in growth, or not a normal rate of growth, that has large implications for later health."

You can read the full press release from the University of Alberta research group here:

U of A researchers strive to increase awareness about Choline during Pregnancy (August 8, 2011)