Maternal choline supplements to protect babies from prenatal cannabis exposure
Clinical Trial of Maternal Choline Supplements to Mitigate Effects of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure on Early Brain Development.
Pregnant people who use cannabis will take choline supplements or a placebo to try to support healthier early brain development in their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292409 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are pregnant and use cannabis, you could join a randomized, double-blind trial where you take either high-dose phosphatidylcholine or a matching placebo during pregnancy. Neither you nor the study staff will know which pill you receive, and about 120 participants will be enrolled. Your baby will have tests at birth and in early childhood to measure brain function and attention, and the team will compare outcomes between the choline and placebo groups. The goal is to see whether boosting maternal choline levels can counteract effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on early brain wiring and behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people who report cannabis use during pregnancy and who can attend study visits and follow-up assessments for their newborn.
Not a fit: People who are not using cannabis during pregnancy or who cannot comply with study visits and supplement regimens are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could reduce the negative effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on infant brain development and early attention.
How similar studies have performed: Prior observational work linked higher maternal choline levels to more normal newborn brain measures despite maternal cannabis use, but this randomized placebo-controlled trial is a novel, rigorous test of the approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Sharon K — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hunter, Sharon K
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.