A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009; 90(4):1056–1060) examined the relationship between plasma choline levels and anxiety in a large cross-sectional population. The study included 5,918 participants in two age groups (46–49 years and 70–74 years). Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
The investigators reported an inverse relationship between plasma choline levels and anxiety scores, meaning that lower choline levels were associated with higher anxiety. This relationship was not observed for depression, and no association was found between plasma choline levels and depressive symptoms.
Choline is a dietary nutrient often grouped with the B-complex vitamins. It is a structural component of phospholipids such as lecithin and plays a role in lipid transport and metabolism. Choline is present in foods such as egg yolks, liver, brewer’s yeast, and wheat germ. It is also involved in the formation and maintenance of myelin and participates in normal liver and gallbladder function. Choline deficiency has been associated in the literature with alterations in lipid handling and liver fat accumulation.
