The study that found: The pregnancy supplement that raises a child's IQ by about 8 points

A randomized clinical trial found that children whose mothers took a phosphatidylcholine supplement during pregnancy scored nearly 8 points higher on cognitive tests and experienced fewer social withdrawal problems.

A randomized clinical trial published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that children whose mothers took a phosphatidylcholine supplement during pregnancy scored nearly 8 points higher on cognitive tests compared to children in the placebo group. Additionally, in the supplement group, 4% of children suffered from increased social withdrawal problems, compared to 24% in the placebo group. The researchers recruited 206 pregnant women at 16 weeks of gestation, who were randomly assigned to receive 9,000 mg of phosphatidylcholine or a placebo daily until delivery. Researcher Friedman explained that choline activates a receptor in developing nerve cells, and that many mothers do not get enough choline in their diet. The researchers recommended a dose of 7,200 mg of phosphatidylcholine or 900 mg of choline. However, about a third of participants did not complete the assessments over four years, and the results were based on parental reports. The researchers emphasized that larger studies with longer follow-up are needed.