Brain nutrient choline found lacking in anxiety disorder patients, study shows

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Millions of Americans battle chronic anxiety — but new research claiming a missing brain nutrient may be partly to blame is already drawing skepticism from experts who say the findings are far from conclusive.

Using a non-invasive MRI-based technique that measures brain chemicals, researchers at UC Davis Health in California looked at data from 25 previous studies, comparing 370 people with anxiety disorders to 342 without anxiety.

They found that, across the combined studies, individuals with certain anxiety disorders showed an average of about 8% lower choline levels in brain regions that help regulate thinking and emotions.

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“An 8% lower amount doesn’t sound like that much, but in the brain, it’s significant,” said senior study author Richard Maddock, a medical doctor and research professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

Choline — found in foods such as eggs, beef, chicken, fish and soybeans — plays a key role in memory, mood and cell health, according to experts.

Woman's hands seen putting fried egg on plate from pan.

Found in certain foods, choline plays a key role in memory, mood and nerve function. (iStock)

The study authors propose that heightened stress responses in anxiety disorders may increase the brain’s demand for choline, gradually lowering levels of the nutrient — especially in regions that help regulate stress and reduce the threat response, according to the published research.

The findings don’t prove that low choline causes anxiety. The researchers also emphasized that it’s too early to recommend eating more choline or taking large doses of it in supplement form.

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The research does, however, reveal a pattern across three major anxiety disorders that could shape future research into how nutrition and brain chemistry interact with anxiety disorders, they said.

“It suggests nutritional approaches — like appropriate choline supplementation — may help restore brain chemistry and improve outcomes for patients,” study co-author Jason Smucny said in a statement.

Anxiety disorders affect nearly 30% of U.S. adults, according to experts. (iStock)

But several clinicians and nutrition experts told Fox News Digital the results should be interpreted cautiously and warned Americans against assuming anxiety is caused by a nutrient deficiency.

Maddock said more research is needed to learn if increasing choline will reduce anxiety. He warned that heavy choline supplements can cause side effects.

Experts note that people may benefit from reviewing their choline intake as part of routine nutritional guidance and recommend discussing any changes — especially for those with anxiety — with a healthcare provider.

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Choline is considered “essential” because the body makes only a small amount of it, and the rest has to come from food, research has shown. Studies have found that most Americans, including children, don’t get the recommended daily amount of the nutrient.

Some omega-3 fats found in fish, such as salmon, may be “especially good” at delivering choline to the brain, Maddock noted.

Choline-rich foods on cutting board including eggs, salmon, fish, chicken and steak.

Experts say a balanced, choline-rich diet may support brain health but is not a replacement for anxiety treatment. (iStock)

“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting about 30% of adults,” Maddock said.

“They can be debilitating for people, and many people do not receive adequate treatment.”

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Nona Kocher, a board-certified psychiatrist in Miami Beach, agreed that an 8% drop is not “trivial.”

Kocher, who was not involved in the study, described the pattern as potentially indicating stress on metabolic processes.

“One big misunderstanding is thinking that a nutrient deficiency is the main cause of anxiety.”

“We know from the clinic that this kind of burden is associated with feeling easily overwhelmed, feeling less resilient under stress and being mentally tired earlier in the day,” she told Fox News Digital.

Nonetheless, the data suggest a consequence more than a cause, she noted.

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The researchers emphasized that the new findings do not mean choline is the cause of anxiety — or that people should ditch treatment plans in favor of diet tweaks. The MRI technique they used captures chemical stress signals in the brain, so low choline may reflect metabolic strain and not simply a nutrient deficiency.

“One big misunderstanding is thinking that a nutrient deficiency is the main cause of anxiety,” said Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian nutritionist in South Carolina.

Female and male doctors examine a brain scan up on large screen in front of them.

Researchers say lower choline levels in brain regions are responsible for emotion regulation and stress response. (iStock)

“Anxiety is complicated and usually involves a mix of factors, like genetics, life experiences and brain chemistry,” Manaker, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.

“While low choline might have an association, it’s not the whole story.”

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Mood and anxiety disorders have been tied to other nutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D, Manaker said.

A balanced diet that includes foods like dairy milk and eggs — which provide choline, vitamin D, B12 and other brain-supporting nutrients — may help address those gaps, but nutrition is only one piece of managing anxiety, she emphasized.