From Fertility to Pregnancy and Newborn Health
Certain nutrients are essential during pregnancy, a unique stage in a woman’s life. Phospholipids play a key role in supporting at least two of these nutrients—DHA and choline—allowing their full benefits to be realized.
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for health is now well-documented and widely recognized. The significance of phospholipids has been highlighted more recently and deserves special attention. Science shows that they are an indispensable complement to omega-3s.
Choline’s critical role is also well-established, particularly during pregnancy. Despite this recognition, it is estimated that in Western countries, 80% of the population consumes less than the recommended daily intake, which can have consequences for both mother and fetus.
Phosphatidylcholine proves to be the most natural and effective way to deliver choline and compensate for this deficiency.
Thanks to their ability to integrate into cell membranes—a process known as bioaccretion—phospholipids can store omega-3s and choline and make them immediately available for cellular metabolism, thereby enhancing their specific benefits.
The Lecimarine® and Cholinactive® Ranges
The LECIMARINE® range comes from fish eggs, naturally rich in DHA and phospholipids in the form of phosphatidylcholine. Fish eggs are sourced from fishing by-products without impacting marine wildlife, making LECIMARINE® a sustainable source of omega-3s and phospholipids.
CHOLINACTIVE® is Novastell’s commercial brand offering concentrated phosphatidylcholine fractions. Derived from non-GMO soy and sunflower, these ingredients are available in concentrations ranging from 30% to 90% and in various forms (liquid, powder, and solid).
DHA, Choline, and Pregnancy
Omega-3s are essential nutrients that support growth, overall health, and the protection of key functions throughout life. The longest and most unsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are found in marine oils from fish or microalgae, mainly in triglyceride form.
Dietary intake is crucial for metabolic reasons. However, only DHA can accumulate in cell membranes such as those of neurons, retinal cells, and gametes—cell types for which membrane properties are critical.
A deficiency in long-chain omega-3s during pregnancy and early childhood negatively affects cognitive development and vision.
Choline is another essential nutrient. It participates in metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of acetylcholine and sphingomyelin in the brain and maintains the active form of vitamin B9. Choline deficiency during pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia in mothers and neural tube defects in the fetus.
Phosphatidylcholine Protects, Transports, and Delivers DHA and Choline to Cell Membranes
Dietary DHA intake is essential. The main difference between triglyceride and phospholipid forms lies not in intestinal absorption but in how DHA is transported in the bloodstream.
In triglyceride form, DHA is “diluted” throughout the body, where it can be used by cells for metabolism and partly for energy production.
Phospholipids, however, reach protected organs such as the brain, retina, and gonads intact. The fatty acids they carry are preserved and delivered intact to these sensitive organs.
Phosphatidylcholine is the phospholipid that enables DHA to cross protective barriers, including the blood–brain and blood–retina barriers, via a specific transporter. DHA delivery to the brain is estimated to be 2–4 times more efficient in phospholipid form than as a triglyceride.
Although the body can synthesize choline, dietary intake remains essential. In the intestine, free choline can be converted by gut bacteria into trimethylamine (TMA), then into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by liver enzymes. Blood TMAO levels are considered a cardiovascular risk marker. When provided as phosphatidylcholine, choline is protected from these degradations.
Furthermore, free choline is not stored; its only reserve is in cell membranes as phosphatidylcholine. Delivering dietary choline both as a free, immediately available form and as a bound, protected, and longer-lasting form offers a significant advantage. Only phosphatidylcholine-bound choline can cross the blood–brain barrier and reach nerve cells.
Bioaccretion: The Secret of Phospholipids
Phospholipids are the building blocks of cell membranes. They integrate naturally with the fatty acids they carry. DHA provides membrane fluidity, while phospholipids act as a readily available DHA reserve for cellular metabolism.
Bioaccretion can be assessed by measuring the Omega-3 Index, based on the percentage of EPA + DHA in red blood cell membranes, which reflects the composition of human neural cells.
Studies show that the Omega-3 Index is higher when omega-3s are supplied as phospholipids rather than triglycerides.
The Role of Phospholipids and Omega-3s in Fertility
Conception begins with the fusion of an egg and a sperm. Membrane fluidity, dependent on phospholipid and fatty acid composition, is crucial.
Salas-Huetos et al. conducted a 16-year follow-up of couples and concluded that dietary omega-3 intake improves reproductive outcomes. In men, it enhances sperm quality; in women, it increases pregnancy success rates.
Phospholipids as Key Nutrient Carriers During Pregnancy and Lactation
Nutrient supply to the fetus is crucial for growth and depends entirely on the mother. The nervous system develops throughout pregnancy and continues after birth. DHA accounts for one in five fatty acids in the brain, rising to one in two in the retina. The importance of dietary DHA intake during pregnancy is recognized in European health claims related to infant development and health (Regulation (EU) No 440/2011).
Phosphatidylcholine is an essential carrier of DHA and choline. Maternal choline intake increases blood phosphatidylcholine and DHA levels in both maternal circulation and the placenta.
There is a strong, significant correlation between maternal DHA intake and its presence in plasma phospholipids and breast milk, highlighting the critical role of phospholipids in transporting essential nutrients from mother to fetus via umbilical cord blood and through breastfeeding after birth.
Recent research shows that the phosphatidylcholine–DHA transporter Mfsd2a, found in the blood–brain barrier, is also present in the placenta. There is still much to learn about the importance of phospholipids in maternal, fetal, and newborn nutrition.
Conclusion
As noted by Semba (2020), fish oil supplements cannot fully replace eating fish. Certain components, namely phospholipids, are missing.
Once considered “minor lipids” due to their small dietary quantity, phospholipids are now recognized as essential, far beyond their quantitative contribution. They form the membranes of every living cell and actively transport key nutrients. By delivering nutrients to vital organs, they enable the complex development of a new organism.
The fetus depends entirely on maternal DHA and choline for growth, and phospholipids are the link—from maternal blood to the placenta and from breast milk to the newborn.
DHA and choline are delivered safely and effectively when bound to their carrier, phosphatidylcholine.
Marine phospholipids in LECIMARINE® naturally contain DHA and choline as phosphatidylcholine. CHOLINACTIVE® ingredients provide phosphatidylcholine with other nutrients to enhance bioavailability and effectiveness.
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