Maternal Intake of Eggs and Infant Neurodevelopment
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Egg Supplementation, Healthy Prenatal Diet.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Pregnancy Related. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The fetal brain requires DHA, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin (L/Z) for development, dependent on maternal intake during pregnancy. However, many pregnant women do not meet daily requirements through diet or prenatal vitamins. Egg yolks are rich in choline, and women who consume eggs daily are more likely to meet the adequate intake of 450 mg/day. A recent study by Christifano et al. found that maternal egg and neuroprotective nutrient intake predicted neurodevelopment at 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. This study aims to determine if fetal neurodevelopment is enhanced among women who consume a prenatal diet emphasizing egg consumption (EGG) versus a healthy prenatal diet education control group (HPD). Women between 12-20 weeks' gestation will be randomized into EGG and HPD groups. The EGG group will receive education on the importance of prenatal choline and egg consumption and be encouraged to consume 10-14 eggs per week. The HPD group will receive education on a healthy prenatal diet. Both groups will be encouraged to take a DHA supplement, and dietary intake of choline, L/Z, and DHA will be collected. Fetal heart rate variability will be measured at 36 weeks gestation and infant EEGs will be conducted postnatally to examine brain function. Increasing prenatal egg consumption is both economical and feasible to boost prenatal choline intake, promote offspring neurodevelopment, and guide prenatal dietary recommendations.
Interventions
- Dietary supplement Egg Supplementation
Encouraged to consume 10-14 eggs per week. - Dietary supplement Healthy Prenatal Diet
Educated on standard healthy prenatal diet and encouraged to follow recommendations.
Primary outcome measures
- Fetal neurodevelopment as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) [Time frame: 36 weeks gestational age]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Fetal neurodevelopment as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) [Time frame: 36 weeks gestational age]
- Infant neurodevelopment as indexed by event-related potentials (ERP) [Time frame: 1 month postnatal age]
- Infant neurodevelopment as indexed by event-related potentials (ERP) [Time frame: 1 month postnatal age]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Pregnant females ≥18 years of age
- 12 to 20-weeks' gestation at enrollment
- No serious illnesses likely to confound study outcomes
- Consuming 3 eggs/week or less at enrollment and willing to increase consumption during the study
- Singleton gestation
- Available by telephone and text
Exclusion criteria
- Less than 18 years at enrollment
- Gestational age at enrollment <12 or >20 weeks
- Any serious illness likely to confound study outcomes
- Consuming more than 3 eggs per week at enrollment
- Unable/unwilling to consume eggs until delivery or egg allergy
- Expecting multiple infants
- No access to telephone or text
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- The University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07583186 · STUDY00161320 · Award 2025-67017-44743