Monday Dec 1, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published today in The FASEB Journal suggests that pregnant women should have enough intake of a nutrient called choline because lack of it may worsen the prognosis of breast cancer in their offspring.

The study led by Krzysztof Blusztajn, Ph.D. of Boson University showed female rats born to mothers who had enough choline during pregnancy had a better outcome of breast cancer compared with those whose mothers did not get choline during pregnancy.

For the study, pregnant rats received diets containing either standard amounts of choline, no choline at all, or extra choline.   Then female rats were treated with a chemical to induce breast cancer.

The researchers found although all rats exposed to the chemical developed breast cancer, breast cancer in those whose mothers got choline during pregnancy was growing more slowly than that in those whose mothers got no prenatal choline.   Fast growth means worse prognosis.

"Our study provides additional support for the notion that choline is an important nutrient that has to be considered when dietary guidelines are developed," said Blusztajn. "We hope it will be possible to develop nutritional guidelines for pregnant women that ensure the good health of their offspring well into old age."

Choline is found abundant in beef liver, wheat germ and egg.   Canned shrimp and salmon also contain quite some choline.   In plant foods, the nutrient is found rich in cooked Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, and peanut butter to name a few.

Breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in 184,000 women and kill 40,000 in the United States in 2008, according to The National Cancer Institute.   The disease is considered largely preventable.   And many modifications of diet and lifestyle can help prevent the disease.