Jie Zhu1,2,3,4, Yu-Hong Liu5, Xiang-Long He4, Martin Kohlmeier6, Li-Li Zhou1, Li-Wei Shen1, Xin-Xuan Yi4, Qing-Ya Tang1, Wei Cai3,4,7, Bei Wang8. 1. Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 2. Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA. 3. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 4. Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 5. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, China. 6. Human Research Core and Nutrigenetics Laboratory, UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA. 7. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China. 8. Department of Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, wangbei03@aliyun.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Choline-metabolizing genetic variation may interact with choline intake on fetal programming and pregnancy outcome. This case-control study aims to explore the association of maternal choline consumption and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) gene polymorphism rs7946 with preterm birth risk. METHODS: 145 Han Chinese women with preterm delivery and 157 Han Chinese women with term delivery were recruited in Shanghai. Dietary choline intake during pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, DNA samples were genotyped for PEMT rs7946 (G5465A) with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels measured. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile of choline intake, women within the highest consumption quartile had adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for preterm birth of 0.48 (95% confidence interval, CI [0.24, 0.95]). There was a significant interaction between maternal choline intake and PEMT rs7946 (p for interaction = 0.04), where the AA genotype carriers who consumed the energy-adjusted choline <255.01 mg/day had aOR for preterm birth of 3.75 (95% CI [1.24, 11.35]), compared to those with GG genotype and choline intake >255.01 mg/day during pregnancy. Additionally, the greatest elevated plasma Hcy was found in the cases with AA genotype and choline consumption <255.01 mg/day (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of PEMT rs7946 may be associated with increased preterm birth in these Han Chinese women with low choline intake during pregnancy.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Choline-metabolizing genetic variation may interact with choline intake on fetal programming and pregnancy outcome. This case-control study aims to explore the association of maternal choline consumption and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) gene polymorphism rs7946 with preterm birth risk. METHODS: 145 Han Chinese women with preterm delivery and 157 Han Chinese women with term delivery were recruited in Shanghai. Dietary choline intake during pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, DNA samples were genotyped for PEMT rs7946 (G5465A) with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels measured. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile of choline intake, women within the highest consumption quartile had adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for preterm birth of 0.48 (95% confidence interval, CI [0.24, 0.95]). There was a significant interaction between maternal choline intake and PEMT rs7946 (p for interaction = 0.04), where the AA genotype carriers who consumed the energy-adjusted choline <255.01 mg/day had aOR for preterm birth of 3.75 (95% CI [1.24, 11.35]), compared to those with GG genotype and choline intake >255.01 mg/day during pregnancy. Additionally, the greatest elevated plasma Hcy was found in the cases with AA genotype and choline consumption <255.01 mg/day (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of PEMT rs7946 may be associated with increased preterm birth in these Han Chinese women with low choline intake during pregnancy.