A new study from UC Davis Health suggests that people living with anxiety disorders may have lower levels of choline, an essential nutrient that supports brain function, mood regulation and cell health.
Researchers analyzed data from 25 brain imaging studies comparing more than 700 people, about half of whom had generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder or social anxiety disorder. They found that choline levels were roughly 8% lower in those with anxiety. The difference was most consistent in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in decision-making and emotional control.
“This is the first meta-analysis to show a chemical pattern in the brain in anxiety disorders,” said Jason Smucny, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis. “It suggests nutritional approaches — like appropriate choline supplementation — may help restore brain chemistry and improve outcomes for patients.”
Senior author Richard Maddock, a psychiatrist and research professor at UC Davis, noted that an 8% difference is meaningful when it comes to brain chemistry.
“An 8% lower amount doesn’t sound like that much, but in the brain it’s significant,” he said.
Choline is found in many everyday foods, including eggs, beef, chicken, fish, soybeans and milk. The body produces only a small amount naturally, so most must come from diet. Maddock cautioned that more research is needed before recommending supplements but said that diet plays a major role in mental health.
“Someone with an anxiety disorder might want to look at their diet and see whether they are getting the recommended daily amount of choline,” Maddock said. “Previous research has shown that most people in the U.S., including children, don’t get the recommended daily amount.”
The study was published in Molecular Psychiatry, a Nature journal, and supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.