Can tetracycline-induced fatty liver in pregnancy be attributed to choline deficiency?

Abstract

Pregnant women, especially those in their third trimester, are particularly susceptible to tetracycline-induced fatty liver. Experimental evidence obtained in rats suggest that the precipitous fall in maternal liver choline concentration nearing the end of pregnancy could lead to a severe reduction in the lipotropic activity of the liver. It is hypothesised that the liver in this state will be at much greater risk of developing fatty degeneration, especially if it is exposed to hepatotoxic agents such as tetracycline.