Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Apr;97(4):718-27. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.050211. Epub 2013 Feb 27.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) produced via the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) N-methyltransferase (PEMT) pathway is enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA plays a critical role in fetal development and is linked to health endpoints in adulthood. It is unknown whether choline, which can serve as a source of S-adenosylmethionine methyl groups, influences PC-DHA or the PC:PE ratio in pregnant and nonpregnant women.
This study tested whether choline intake affects indicators of choline-related lipid metabolism, including erythrocyte and plasma PC-DHA and PC:PE ratios, in pregnant women in the third trimester and nonpregnant women.
Pregnant (n = 26) and nonpregnant (n = 21) women consumed 480 or 930 mg choline/d and a daily DHA supplement for 12 wk. Blood was collected at baseline and at the midpoint and end of the study. PC-DHA was analyzed as the proportion of total PC fatty acids.
Pregnant women had greater (P = 0.002) PC-DHA concentrations than did nonpregnant women at baseline. The proportion of erythrocyte and plasma PC-DHA increased (P ≤ 0.002) in pregnant and nonpregnant women regardless of choline intake. However, in nonpregnant women, consumption of 930 mg choline/d led to greater (P < 0.001) erythrocyte PC-DHA and a more rapid increase (P < 0.001) in plasma PC-DHA. Lower (P = 0.001-0.024) erythrocyte and plasma PC:PE in pregnant women was not modified by choline intake.
A higher choline intake may increase PEMT activity, resulting in greater PC-DHA enrichment of the PC molecule in nonpregnant women. Increased production of PC-DHA during pregnancy indicates elevated PEMT activity and a higher demand for methyl donors. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01127022.
通过 S-腺苷甲硫氨酸依赖性磷脂酰乙醇胺（PE）N-甲基转移酶（PEMT）途径产生的磷脂酰胆碱（PC）富含二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）。DHA 在胎儿发育中起着至关重要的作用，并与成年期的健康终点有关。目前尚不清楚胆碱作为 S-腺苷甲硫氨酸甲基供体是否会影响怀孕和非怀孕妇女的 PC-DHA 或 PC：PE 比值。
本研究旨在测试胆碱摄入是否会影响怀孕和非怀孕妇女红细胞和血浆 PC-DHA 以及 PC：PE 比值等与胆碱相关的脂质代谢指标。
怀孕（n = 26）和非怀孕（n = 21）妇女分别摄入 480 或 930mg/d 胆碱和每日 DHA 补充剂，持续 12 周。在基线和研究中点和结束时采集血液。PC-DHA 作为总 PC 脂肪酸的比例进行分析。
与非怀孕妇女相比，怀孕妇女在基线时的 PC-DHA 浓度更高（P = 0.002）。无论胆碱摄入量如何，怀孕和非怀孕妇女的红细胞和血浆 PC-DHA 比例均增加（P≤0.002）。然而，在非怀孕妇女中，摄入 930mg/d 胆碱可导致红细胞 PC-DHA 增加（P < 0.001），血浆 PC-DHA 增加更快（P < 0.001）。胆碱摄入并未改变怀孕妇女的红细胞和血浆 PC：PE 比值（P = 0.001-0.024）。
更高的胆碱摄入量可能会增加 PEMT 活性，从而导致非怀孕妇女 PC 分子中 PC-DHA 的富集增加。怀孕期间 PC-DHA 的产生增加表明 PEMT 活性升高和对甲基供体的需求增加。本试验在 clinicaltrials.gov 注册为 NCT01127022。
