Low brain choline linked to anxiety disorders.
Study finds 8% lower choline in brains of people with anxiety disorders.
Why it matters
- Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and often untreated.
- Identifying neurometabolic abnormalities could lead to new treatments.
By the numbers
- 370 patients and 342 controls were studied.
- 8% lower choline levels in anxiety disorder patients.
- Effect size (Hedges’ g) of -0.64 for cortical tCho.
The big picture
- Reduced choline levels are consistent across different anxiety disorders.
- This suggests a potential metabolic mechanism for anxiety disorders.
What they're saying
- Some suggest a "Goldilocks zone" for choline levels, as supplements might cause anxiety/depression.
- Interest in dietary sources of choline (like eggs) and related nutrients (like magnesium).
Caveats
- The study is a meta-analysis based on existing data.
- More research is needed to confirm if choline supplementation could be a treatment.
What’s next
- Future studies may explore the clinical significance of these findings.
- Potential for choline supplementation as a therapeutic option could be investigated.