The role of choline in epigenetic programming of somatic and mental health during fetal development and prevention of obstetric complications


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2023.4-5.16-22

N.I. Tapilskaya, T.S. Zhernakova, O.N. Bespalova, Yu.R. Ryzhov, R.I. Glushakov

1) D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, St. Petersburg, Russia; 2) S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia
The metabolism of choline and its metabolites plays one of the key roles in embryogenesis: phosphatidylcholine is a component of the cell membrane, acetylcholine plays the role of a neurotransmitter, betaine is involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, and dimethylglycine is involved in the processes of mitochondrial respiration. Choline deficiency can cause liver, kidney, pancreatic dysfunction and cognitive impairment. It has been shown that an increase in the choline content in the diet of pregnant women leads to an increase in the cognitive abilities of offspring, which is associated with the normalization of DNA methylation processes. It has been found that only 1 out of 11 pregnant women receives the required amount of choline from food, so an additional 550 mg of choline daily is recommended for pregnant women.

About the Autors


Corresponding author: Natalya I. Tapilskaya, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Reproduction, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, St. Petersburg, Russia; tapnatalia@mail.ru


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