Could Nutrition Play a Role in Anxiety? New Research on Choline and Brain Health

For many internationals living in the Netherlands, conversations about mental health are becoming more open and accessible. Between adjusting to a new culture, navigating language barriers, building social networks, and managing work or study pressures, anxiety can sometimes become part of daily life.

At Baumgarten Child Psychology and More, we are always interested in emerging research that may deepen our understanding of mental health and wellbeing — especially research that helps us think more holistically about brain health. At the same time, we believe it is important to approach these findings carefully and responsibly.

A recently published study from researchers at University of California, Davis Health explored a possible connection between anxiety disorders and lower levels of choline in the brain.

What Did the Research Find?

The researchers reviewed data from 25 previous brain imaging studies involving people with anxiety disorders and individuals without anxiety. Across the studies, they found that participants with anxiety disorders showed approximately 8% lower levels of choline-containing compounds in certain brain regions — especially in the prefrontal cortex, an area involved in emotional regulation, decision-making, and stress management.

The study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and represents one of the first large-scale analyses identifying a consistent chemical pattern linked to anxiety disorders.

What Is Choline?

Choline is an essential nutrient that supports several important functions in the body and brain, including:

• Cell membrane structure

• Memory and learning

• Mood regulation

• Nerve signaling

Although our bodies produce small amounts naturally, most choline comes from food sources. Foods rich in choline include:

• Eggs

• Fish

• Chicken

• Soybeans

• Dairy products

• Beef and beef liver

An Important Note: Correlation Does Not Equal Causation

While this research is certainly interesting, we want to be very careful not to overstate what it means.

At Baumgarten Child Psychology and More, we are hesitant to “recommend” dietary changes as treatment for anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health conditions based solely on correlational findings. Research like this can sometimes unintentionally lead people to assume causation — but correlation does not equal causation.

In other words:

• The study does not prove that low choline causes anxiety.

• It does not prove that eating more choline will reduce anxiety symptoms.

• It does not suggest that nutrition should replace therapy, psychological support, or medical care.

The researchers themselves emphasized this point clearly, noting that more controlled studies are needed before any conclusions about treatment can be made.

Why This Research Still Matters

Even with these limitations, this study contributes to a growing area of research exploring how physical health, nutrition, stress regulation, and brain chemistry may interact.

Mental health is complex. Anxiety disorders are influenced by many factors, including:

• Genetics

• Life experiences

• Trauma

• Chronic stress

• Social environment

• Sleep

• Physical health

• Neurobiology

Nutrition may eventually prove to be one small piece of that puzzle — not a cure, but perhaps one contributing factor among many.

For internationals living in the Netherlands, this can also be a helpful reminder that wellbeing is multidimensional. Adjusting to a new country often affects routines around food, sleep, movement, social connection, and stress management, all of which can influence overall mental health.

A Balanced Approach to Mental Health

Rather than viewing nutrition as a “solution,” we encourage a balanced and evidence-informed perspective:

• Maintain regular meals and overall nutritional balance

• Seek professional mental health support when needed

• Focus on sleep, stress reduction, and social connection

• Avoid self-medicating with supplements without medical guidance

• Stay curious about new research while remaining cautious about oversimplified conclusions

Research into the relationship between nutrition and mental health is evolving rapidly, and studies like this may help guide future understanding. For now, they are best viewed as interesting scientific developments rather than direct clinical recommendations.

Reference

Maddock, R. J., & Smucny, J. (2025). Transdiagnostic reduction in cortical choline-containing compounds in anxiety disorders: a 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy meta-analysis. Molecular Psychiatry, 30(12), 6020. DOI: 10.1038/s41380-025-03206-7