Lower Brain Choline Levels Linked to Anxiety, New Analysis Finds
A meta-analysis published in Molecular Psychiatry by researchers at UC Davis Health has identified a notable biological difference in the brains of people with anxiety disorders.
The Key Finding
The analysis reviewed data from 25 previous studies measuring brain neurometabolites. It included 370 individuals with anxiety disorders and 342 without.
Choline levels were approximately 8% lower in the anxiety group, particularly in the prefrontal cortex—a region crucial for regulating thought, emotion, decision making, and behavior.
A Potential Mechanism
The authors suggest that chronic 'fight-or-flight' responses may increase the brain's demand for choline. This heightened demand could potentially lead to reduced levels if dietary intake is insufficient.
The finding does not prove that low dietary choline causes anxiety or that choline supplements are an effective treatment.
Richard Maddock, senior author of the study, cautioned against self-medicating with excessive choline supplements. Further research, including controlled trials, is needed to determine if increasing choline intake can alter brain chemistry or improve anxiety outcomes.
Additional Observations
While reduced levels of NAA (a marker of neuronal health) were also found across brain regions after exclusions, the reduction in choline was the most consistent signal.
The study measured brain chemicals using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), a noninvasive MRI technique.