How choline and fat during pregnancy affect liver health in offspring
Official title: Interaction of Choline and Fat in the Prenatal Programming of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Funded at Brooklyn College · NIH-11081719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how what moms eat, especially choline and fats, can affect their children's liver health and risk of developing a condition called NASH, especially if the mom is overweight, to find ways to help prevent this in kids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brooklyn College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $157,896 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149383-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women, particularly those who are obese or at risk of metabolic disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without a risk of obesity-related metabolic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal nutrition, specifically choline and dietary fats, on the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in offspring. It aims to understand how maternal obesity and choline supplementation can influence liver fat accumulation and metabolic health in children. By using animal models, the study will explore the epigenetic mechanisms through which choline affects lipid metabolism and gene expression. The goal is to identify potential interventions that could prevent NASH in children exposed to high-fat diets during pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to dietary recommendations for pregnant women that may reduce the risk of liver disease in their children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using maternal choline supplementation to improve metabolic outcomes in offspring, suggesting a potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
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Brooklyn College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Xinyin — Brooklyn College
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Xinyin
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.