Choline supplements to support brain and memory in children exposed to alcohol before birth
Choline Supplementation as a Neurodevelopmental Intervention in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Researchers give choline supplements to young children exposed to alcohol before birth to try to improve thinking, memory, and attention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137565 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins, they would receive daily choline supplements or a placebo without us or the staff knowing which one (double-blind, randomized). The team will measure memory, attention, behavior, and other cognitive skills and may include long-term follow-up visits to see if gains last. The researchers have run prior trials showing safety and age-related benefits and will focus on toddlers and preschool-age children. Participation will likely involve clinic visits and developmental testing over months to years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or known prenatal alcohol exposure, especially toddlers and preschool-age children, would be the best fit.
Not a fit: People without prenatal alcohol exposure, older children, or those with unrelated severe medical conditions are less likely to benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, choline could improve memory, attention, and long-term cognitive skills for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier randomized, double-blind trials by this group found choline to be safe and showed improvements in memory, processing, working memory, and ADHD-related behavior, particularly in younger children.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wozniak, Jeffrey Robert — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Wozniak, Jeffrey Robert
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.