Dietary Choline Intake during Pregnancy and PEMT rs7946 Polymorphism on Risk of Preterm Birth: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction and Aims:</i></b> 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. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 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. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 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 (<i>p</i> for interaction = 0.04), where the AA genotype carriers who consumed the energy-adjusted choline &#x3c;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 &#x3e;255.01 mg/day during pregnancy. Additionally, the greatest elevated plasma Hcy was found in the cases with AA genotype and choline consumption &#x3c;255.01 mg/day (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The AA genotype of PEMT rs7946 may be associated with increased preterm birth in these Han Chinese women with low choline intake during pregnancy.