Choline during Pregnancy - How much? When?

Hi,

I'm a little confused by when the choline is required. I know entirely throughout pregnancy would be optimal, however I have also come across some information that says only in the third trimester. What is your experience/knowledge with this? I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and have been able to have eggs on and off.

Thanks,
Lisa

My Response was:

Hi Lisa,

The most important time for prenatal choline supplementation seems to be the last 20 weeks of pregnancy - and this is when it seems to have the largest impact on intelligence.  But its also important to have it for the year following - during breast feeding. 

"Nuances in choline action are showing up. By narrowing the window of prenatal supplementation, Williams and others have identified only two small periods during which extra choline boosts a rat's intelligence. The first is from days 12 to 17 in gestation. This correlates roughly with the second half of a human pregnancy. The other window runs from 2 to 4 weeks after birth - a period that corresponds loosely with human infancy and toddlerhood."  source: Science News Online, Week of Nov. 3, 2001; Vol. 160, No. 18

We supplemented with 1 grams of choline per day during the first half of the pregnancy (and on average 2 to 4 egg yolks per day), and then around 3 grams (it's a lot of choline) during the last 20 weeks.  We supplemented with both Choline Bitartrate and triple strength lecithin. In one child we used more Lecithin (perhaps 75% lecithin, and the other child we split it 50%/50% Soy Lecithin-based choline, and Choline Bitartrate.

Hope that helps,

admin (at) cholinebaby.com