Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 25 February 2023

ARTICLE 58 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2023 CHOLINE TODAY, EUROS TOMORROW AND POSSIBLY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME “For expectant moms, studies show that higher prenatal choline intake during gestation was suggestive of improved infant cognitive function1. The same is true for the dairy cow. While we don’t necessarily need smarter cows, choline plays many roles in their life-long health. And healthier cows have significant economic advantages.” “Don’t drink, don’t smoke, and take your multi-vitamin.” Any pregnant woman can tell you this is the advice they receive from the moment they know they are pregnant. Extensive research in humans and animals has confirmed the long-term impacts of nutrition during gestation. Prenatal nutrition can permanently affect both tissues and organs, with life-long consequences to growth and health. Known as epigenetics, it’s the study of changes in gene function caused by the mother’s diet during gestation that are not related to the DNA makeup of the gene. These changes can predispose humans to increased risk of depression, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Choline is an essential nutrient that is neither a vitamin nor a mineral. While the liver produces it in small quantities, the majority of choline must come from dietary sources. The crucial role choline plays in cellular function and lipid metabolism contributes to cognitive, cardiovascular, and liver health, as well as the maintenance of vigor during exercise. In 1998, the Institute of Medicine first established choline as an essential nutrient in humans. In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration set a recommended daily intake, allowing for Daily Value labeling. Within a year, there was a call for increased choline levels in prenatal vitamins. YOU ARE WHAT YOUR MOTHER EATS What a mother eats during pregnancy can affect her offspring. For expectant moms, studies show that higher prenatal choline intake during gestation was suggestive of improved infant cognitive function1. It may also be associated with reduced neural tube defects2, showing widespread in utero impact. The same is true for the dairy cow. While we don’t necessarily need smarter cows, choline plays many roles in their life-long health. And healthier cows have significant economic advantages. For the transition cow, choline is intricately involved in methyl group transfer, playing a role in both energy and protein metabolism, as well as gene expression and neurotransmission. It is an essential precursor for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine Marcos Zenobi, MSc, Ph.D. Technical Services Manager Balchem

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