Choline Supplements During Pregnancy May Prevent Schizophrenia

Research shows that the use of choline supplements during pregnancy may prevent schizophrenia.  Specifically, lower rates of physiological schizophrenic risk factors in infants 33 days old has been noted when the dietary supplement is given during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and early infancy.

Robert Freedman, MD, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine and one of the study's authors states: "Basic research indicates that choline supplementation during pregnancy facilitates cognitive functioning in offspring. Our finding that it ameliorates some of the pathophysiology associated with risk for schizophrenia now requires longer-term follow-up to assess whether it decreases risk for the later development of illness as well."

Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient, typically grouped within the B-complex vitamins. It can be found naturally in foods such as liver, muscle meats, fish, nuts and eggs.  According to the American Institute of Medicine, pregnant women require between 450 and 3500 milligrams of choline each day and 550 to 3500 milligrams while lactating.  Infants aged 0-6 months need a minimum daily dose of 125 milligrams of choline and 150 milligrams from 7-12 months of age.

“Choline is also being studied for potential benefits in liver disease, including chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, depression, memory loss, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and certain types of seizures.”

To test their theory, researchers observed infant responses to a clicking sound.  Typically, the brain responds fully to an initial click, however the response to a second click immediately following the first is inhibited.  This trait is often absent among schizophrenia patients and relates to poor sensory filtering and familial transmission of schizophrenia risk.  Researchers observed this effect among infants to represent the illness as schizophrenia does not normally appear until adolescence.

“Half the healthy pregnant women in this study took 3,600 milligrams of phosphatidylcholine each morning and 2,700 milligrams each evening; the other half took placebo. After delivery, their infants received 100 milligrams of phosphatidylcholine per day or placebo. Eighty-six percent of infants exposed to pre- and postnatal choline supplementation, compared to 43% of unexposed infants, inhibited the response to repeated sounds, as measured with EEG sensors placed on the baby's head during sleep.”

These results could not only assist in early detection of schizophrenia, but may even help in preventing the illness or developing more effective treatments.

Some examples of choline found in different food sources:

Type of Food	mg of choline
5 ounces (142 g) raw beef liver	473
Large hardboiled egg	113
Half a pound (227 g) cod fish	190
Half a pound of chicken	150
Quart of milk, 1% fat	173
A gram soy lecithin	30
100 grams of Soybeans dry	116
A pound (454 grams) of cauliflower	177
A pound of spinach	113
A cup of wheat germ	202
Two cups (0.47 liters) firm tofu	142
Two cups of cooked kidney beans	108
A cup of uncooked quinoa	119
A cup of uncooked amaranth	135
A grapefruit	19
Three cups (710 cc) cooked brown rice	54
A cup (146 g) of peanuts	77
A cup (143 g) of almonds	74

Choline Supplementation DuringPregnancy Presents a New Approach to Schizophrenia Prevention
Choline

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Walnuts Improve Age-Related Motor and Cognitive Shortfalls

Walnuts are said to be rich in fiber, vitamin B, magnesium, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. They are also loaded with more omega 3 fatty acids than any other types of nuts. Omega 3 fatty acid has been shown to lower cholesterol. In addition, walnuts assist in reducing the risk of heart disease by improving elasticity of blood vessels and reducing plaque accumulation.

Furthermore, the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts has conducted a study observing
the effects of walnut consumption on behavioural and motor skills.

Our brain ages with us and as such, changes occur that alter or impair neurons in our brain. The synaptic connections in the brain can become weak or change entirely altering the functions of relative connections. Increased oxidative damage to neural tissue also alters the way in which our brain functions. In the study, aged rodents displayed these types of changes behaviorally through impairments in performance on age-related tasks such as balance, coordination, and spatial working memory.

The study consisted of 4 distinct groups of aged rats of similar weight. The diet of the first group of rats consisted of a chow mix containing 2% walnuts, the second 6%, third 9% and fourth 0%. The rats were then subjected to a battery of memory and motor tests. In comparison, the group that ingested 6% walnut in their chow mix would be equivalent to a human eating 1 ounce or 7 to 9 walnuts per day.

“The study found that in aged rats, the diets containing 2 percent or 6 percent walnuts were able to improve age-related motor and cognitive shortfalls, while the 9 percent walnut diet impaired reference memory.”

It seems that a healthy diet and 7 to 9 walnuts per day could be beneficial in reducing the effects of aging on motor and behaviour skills.

Health Benefits of Walnuts
Adding Walnuts To Good Diet May Help Older People Improve Motor And Behavioral Skills

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Fast Food Junkies At Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

The Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet (KI) published a doctoral thesis that links Alzheimer’s disease with high levels of fast food intake. In the study, Susanne Akterin observed mice that were fed diets rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol. After only nine months, the rats had developed what looked like the preliminary stages Alzheimer’s disease. More specifically, the irregularities found in the brain had greatly resembled those of early Alzheimer’s.

Although the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease remains unknown, there are many identified risk factors, such as “a variant of a certain gene that governs the production of apolipoprotein E, one of the functions of which is to transport cholesterol”. This study sought to demonstrate the link between this risk factor and diet in mice.

Basically, the brains of these rats were modified to mimic the effects of the apoE4 gene variant by ingesting a diet similar to fast food for nine months. The results showed a chemical change in the brain comparable to that found in Alzheimer’s patients.

The change in question was an increase in phosphate groups attached to tau, a substance that forms the neurofibrillary tangles observed in Alzheimer’s patients. These tangles prevent the cells from functioning normally, which eventually leads to their death. Ms Akterin and her team also noted indications that cholesterol in food reduced levels of another brain substance, Arc, a protein involved in memory storage.

In short, the results of this study suggest that a diet high in fat/cholesterol combined with genetics can potentially contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Although, there has been no direct causal link identified, the study has provided yet another reason to lay off the burgers and fries.

Fast Food A Potential Risk Factor For Alzheimer’s

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Impulsive Decision-Making And Hunger

Finally, there exists a causal link between serotonin and impulsivity. The neurotransmitter serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that regulates emotions and it has often been associated with social decision-making.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have shed more light on the ‘myth’ that people tend to become aggressive when they are hungry. Our serotonin levels decline when we do not eat because the essential amino acid used to create serotonin can be found in food, such as tryptophan rich products like poultry and chocolate.

The researchers of the study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, manipulated the subjects’ diet in order to reduce serotonin levels. They then used the ‘Ultimatum game’ to study the subjects’ reactions to unfair behaviours. In this game, a player suggests a manner in which to divide a sum of money into two portions, one for themselves and another for the other player. If the other player agrees on the split they each keep their agreed-upon portion. If the other player disagrees with the split then no one gets paid. Typically, people tend to reject 50% of offers that are less than 20-30% of the total stake. However, with lowered serotonin, rates of rejection increased to over 80%. As per Molly Crockett, PhD student at Cambridge Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute:

"Our results suggest that serotonin plays a critical role in social decision-making by normally keeping aggressive social responses in check. Changes in diet and stress cause our serotonin levels to fluctuate naturally, so it’s important to understand how this might affect our every day decision-making" - Article

Now that proof exists that serotonin, which is manufactured through diet, affects the impulsivity of decision-making, it would be interesting to examine how this might apply to other situations involving choices, such as how much impact serotonin levels have on decision-making among users of cocaine, a known appetite suppressant.

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The Epileptic Diet

Although the idea of treating epilepsy through diet is not a novel one, recent studies with adults have demonstrated some valuable results. Epileptic children have benefited from following the ketogenic diet for many years. This diet is one consisting of fasting and very restricted amounts of fluids and carbohydrates. It works so well that it can even completely eliminate seizures in children. The diet builds up ketones or compounds in the body that are produced mostly from fat calories.

The secret to this science remains unknown to date; however, recent research suggests that a similar diet could be a saving grace for epileptic adults who are unable to benefit from medication.

In 2002, John Hopkins began research with a modified version of the Atkins diet, which did not have a fasting component nor a restricted fluid or carb intake. The diet consisted of about 15 grams of carbohydrates. Research proved to be beneficial for children so they turned to adults. What was found?

Those who had been suffering on average 10 seizures per week had vastly reduced their episodes. After only 1 month half displayed a 50% reduction in seizures and after 3 months, one third had reduced their seizures to half. Nevertheless, roughly one third had to quit the diet after 3 months due to an inability to follow the regimen. Fortunately, side affects appeared to be minimal. Although, I feel that more studies are needed to test long-term affects of such a restricted diet.

Most striking is that fourteen of those in the study chose to continue this alternate form of treatment beyond the 6 month trial proving that, although not everyone will benefit from or stomach this type of diet, for some it could be a way of life for those forced to make the choice between medication, surgery and electrical stimulation.

Full Article

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