Choline During Pregnancy

Food sources

Eggs, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, soybeans, potatoes, beans, some prenatal products.

Practical food guidance

• Choline pregnancy food sources include eggs, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, soybeans, potatoes, beans, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and some nuts or seeds.
• A hard-boiled egg is one of the most concentrated everyday choline foods, but users who avoid eggs can still combine soy, beans, dairy, fish, or poultry options.
• Vegetarian users may need a more deliberate plan because many higher-choline foods are animal-based.

Supplement and safety notes

• NIH ODS notes that many pregnant women consume less than the adequate intake for choline, and prenatal supplements often contain little if any choline.
• A supplement is not automatically required for everyone; the safer next step is checking your prenatal label and usual food pattern with your clinician.

Gentle note

Many prenatal vitamins contain little or no choline, so check the label with your clinician.

Questions to ask your clinician

• Does my prenatal vitamin include choline, and if so, how much?
• If I avoid eggs, meat, or fish, what choline-rich foods fit my diet?
• Do folate, vitamin B12, vegetarian eating, nausea, or food aversions make choline harder for me to meet?