Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Study answer

What this study found

Choline did not improve memory, executive function, or attention versus placebo over 6 weeks in children with FASDs. For memory, the Time x group interaction was not significant (P = 0.73), and similar null treatment interactions were seen for executive function and attention measures, including Design Fluency (P = 0.31), Spatial Working Memory total errors (P = 0.31), and ADHD quotient accuracy (P = 0.72). Both groups showed some change over time on several tasks, but these improvements were not attributable to choline. Adverse events were more common with choline than placebo (79.3% vs…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in school-aged children aged 5 to 10 years with confirmed heavy prenatal alcohol exposure/fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Intervention

Children in the active arm received choline 625 mg/day for 6 weeks as an oral glycerophosphocholine liquid concentrate (5.25 mL/day, Nutrasal).

Key limitation

The intervention was short (6 weeks) and the sample was modest, which limits power to detect small cognitive effects.

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Original abstract