Zeisel Steven H
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
J Pediatr. 2006 Nov;149(5 Suppl):S131-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.06.065.
Fetal nutrition sets the stage for organ function in later life. In this review we discuss the fetal and neonatal origins of brain function. Numerous research observations point to the importance of choline for the developing fetus and neonate. This essential nutrient is involved in 1-carbon metabolism and is the precursor for many important compounds, including phospholipids, acetylcholine, and the methyl donor betaine. Dietary intake of choline by the pregnant mother and later by the infant directly affects brain development and results in permanent changes in brain function. In rodents, perinatal supplementation of choline enhances memory and learning functions, changes that endure across the lifespan. Conversely, choline deficiency during these sensitive periods results in memory and cognitive deficits that also persist. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that perinatal choline supplementation can reduce the behavioral effects of prenatal stress and the cognitive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in offspring. The likely mechanism for these effects of choline involves DNA methylation, altered gene expression, and associated changes in stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The currently available animal data on choline and hippocampal development are compelling, but studies are needed to determine whether the same is true in humans.
胎儿营养为其日后的器官功能奠定基础。在本综述中，我们讨论脑功能的胎儿期和新生儿期起源。大量研究观察结果表明胆碱对发育中的胎儿和新生儿至关重要。这种必需营养素参与一碳代谢，是许多重要化合物的前体，包括磷脂、乙酰胆碱和甲基供体甜菜碱。孕妇及随后婴儿的胆碱膳食摄入量直接影响大脑发育，并导致脑功能的永久性改变。在啮齿动物中，围产期补充胆碱可增强记忆和学习功能，这些变化会持续一生。相反，在这些敏感期胆碱缺乏会导致记忆和认知缺陷，且这些缺陷也会持续存在。此外，最近的研究表明，围产期补充胆碱可减轻产前应激对后代行为的影响以及产前酒精暴露对后代认知的影响。胆碱产生这些作用可能的机制涉及DNA甲基化、基因表达改变以及干细胞增殖和分化的相关变化。目前关于胆碱与海马体发育的现有动物数据很有说服力，但仍需要开展研究来确定人类是否也是如此。
