NEW YORK, Jan 6:
Consuming foods such as egg yolks, lean red meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and cruciferous vegetables – that are rich in nutrient choline – during pregnancy may boost your baby’s brain, a study has found.
Researchers from the Cornell University in the US used a rigorous study design to show cognitive benefits in the offspring of pregnant women who daily consumed close to twice the currently recommended amount of choline during their last trimester.
“In animal models using rodents, there’s widespread agreement that supplementing the maternal diet with additional amounts of this single nutrient has lifelong benefits on offspring cognitive function,” said Marie Caudill, from the Cornell University in the US.
“Our study provides some evidence that a similar result is found in humans,” Caudill said.
The finding is important because choline is in high demand during pregnancy yet most women consume less than the recommended 450 milligrammes per day. (PTI)
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