A new analysis suggests a link between low levels of the nutrient choline and anxiety disorders. The research indicates that most people do not get enough choline in their daily diets.
The study, a meta-analysis published in Molecular Psychiatry, reviewed brain imaging data from over 700 participants. It found that people with anxiety disorders had approximately 8% lower levels of choline-containing compounds in their brains compared to others.
This reduction was most pronounced in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in regulating emotions and focus. The pattern was consistent across different anxiety conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
Choline is a nutrient the body uses to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important for memory, focus, and a calm state. It is also a building block for cell membranes in the brain and supports biochemical processes related to mood.
Researchers theorize that chronic anxiety may increase the brain’s metabolic demands, causing it to use up choline reserves more quickly. If dietary intake does not keep pace, choline levels can fall.
Choline is found in many common foods. Some of the best sources include egg yolks, organ meats, salmon, chicken, turkey, soybeans, tofu, milk, dairy products, beef, and cruciferous vegetables.
The study notes that the brain may absorb choline more effectively when it is consumed alongside omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish like salmon and sardines.
The findings do not prove that choline deficiency causes anxiety. Instead, they suggest that low brain choline could be a common biological marker among various anxiety disorders and that anxiety may deplete the nutrient faster than it is typically replaced through diet alone.
The research highlights a potential connection between nutrition and mental health, pointing to diet as one factor that may influence brain chemistry and anxiety symptoms. The study was published on April 14, 2026, by author Ava Durgin.
