Maternal plasma choline and betaine in late pregnancy and child growth up to age 8 years in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sufficient choline and betaine during pregnancy are needed for fetal growth and development.

OBJECTIVES:

We aimed to investigate the associations between maternal plasma choline and betaine in the third trimester of pregnancy and child growth from birth up to 8 years of age.

METHODS:

Concentrations of choline and betaine were measured in plasma of 1331 pregnant women from the KOALA (Kind, Ouders en gezondheid: Aandacht voor Leefstijl en Aanleg) Birth Cohort Study in the Netherlands. Child weight and height were measured at birth and at 1 (91% complete), 2 (86%), and 6-8 y (76%). Birth weight, weight gain in the first year, and z scores for weight and height at 1 and 2 y were used as continuous outcome variables. BMI z scores at 1 and 2 y were used as continuous and dichotomous outcomes, and BMI z scores at age 6-8 y were used to study overweight at that age.

RESULTS:

Each 1-µmol/L increase of maternal plasma choline was associated with a mean 20-g (95% CI: 1.1, 38.0 g) higher weight gain in the first year of life, and a higher BMI z score (β: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.04) and slightly higher odds of BMI z score >85th percentile (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.10) at 1-2 y. Each 1-µmol/L increase of plasma betaine was associated with a mean 12-g (95% CI: 0.8, 23.9 g) higher weight gain in the first year of life and higher odds of BMI z score >85th percentile at 1-2 y (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07). Lastly, betaine was associated with overweight at 6-8 y (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.34), only in boys.

CONCLUSIONS:

Third-trimester pregnancy plasma choline and betaine were positively associated with childhood anthropometric measures. In boys, some of the associations may have persisted up to 8 y of age. Further studies may investigate the validity of maternal plasma choline and betaine concentrations as markers of maternal intake and fetal transfer.

• Authors: Carolina Moltó-Puigmartí, Rima Obeid, Monique Mommers, Simone Jpm Eussen, Carel Thijs
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 114 Issue 4 Pg. 1438-1446 (10 04 2021) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34113974 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Betaine
• Choline

Topics

• Adult
• Betaine (blood)
• Biomarkers
• Child
• Choline (blood)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena