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Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation
Randal G Ross1, Sharon K Hunter1, M Camille Hoffman1
1From the Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora; the Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora; and the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|December 15, 2015
Summary
High-dose phosphatidylcholine supplementation during pregnancy improved infant cerebral inhibition and reduced childhood behavior problems, potentially mitigating risks for later mental illness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- α7-Nicotinic receptors are crucial for GABA inhibitory synapse maturation before birth.
- Choline, present in amniotic fluid, acts as an agonist at α7-nicotinic receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if high-dose oral phosphatidylcholine supplementation during pregnancy enhances fetal cerebral inhibition.
- To determine if this supplementation decreases childhood behavior problems linked to later mental illness.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- Parental behavior assessments using the Child Behavior Checklist were performed at 40 months of age.
- Follow-up on previously reported newborn cerebral evoked response suppression.
Main Results:
- Children in the phosphatidylcholine group showed fewer attention problems and less social withdrawal at 40 months.
- Improvements were comparable to deficits associated with later schizophrenia.
- Behavioral outcomes were moderated by CHRNA7 variants and linked to enhanced newborn cerebral inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Maternal phosphatidylcholine treatment may positively influence early behavior development.
- Increased α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation could alter developmental trajectories for mental illness.
- CHRNA7 gene variants are associated with schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD.
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