Choline intake during pregnancy influences maternal cognitive function and hippocampal gene expression in late adulthood

Non-targeted NMR analysis revealed significantly lower levels of numerous plasma nutrients and metabolites including choline and its derivatives on gestation day 7 compared to day 1. Novel object recognition and Morris Water Maze tests revealed impaired cognition in pregnant mice compared to nonpregnant controls. Choline deprivation worsened the cognitive impairment during pregnancy and choline supplementation alleviated it. Furthermore, choline availability during pregnancy affected cognition and general health in late adulthood, with mice given a choline-deficient diet during pregnancy performed more poorly. RNA-Seq analysis indicates lasting effect of choline intake during pregnancy on hippocampal gene signatures in late adulthood. Choline deprivation was associated with more upregulation of proinflammatory genes, whereas choline supplementation showed upregulation of neuroprotective genes such as <i>Prl</i>, <i>Gh</i>, and hemoglobin (<i>Hba</i> and <i>Hbb</i> subunits). Together, the study shows that choline supplementation benefits cognitive health in women during pregnancy and in late adulthood.