The Associations Between Dietary Choline, Genetics and Anxiety/Depression

Choline, previously considered to be a vitamin, is an essential nutrient involved in a plethora of biological pathways. Choline status is thought to be associated with depression and anxiety, however, the lack of evidence regarding the exact mechanism of its action warrants further investigation. This study aims to explore the associations between dietary choline and depression and anxiety in healthy individuals and how these may differ according to genetics, specifically Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase gene involved in endogenous and exogenous choline metabolism. Establishing these associations could reinforce the need for future intervention trials that could in turn establish causality and determine the mechanistic effects of dietary choline and the PEMT gene activity on depression/anxiety

Primary outcomes

• Depression [1 day observation]: Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaire score higher than 11
• Anxiety [1 day observation]: Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaire score higher than 11

Secondary outcomes

• Choline intake [3 day observation]: Dietary choline intake
• Plasma choline levels [1 measurement]: Choline levels in plasma obtained by colorimetry

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 50 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Overall healthy males
* pre-menopausal females of 18-50 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals with a current clinical diagnosis of anxiety and depression
* pregnant or lactating
* post-menopausal women
* individuals suffering with chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes mellitus and cancer)
* individuals using choline, lecithin or soy supplements,
* obese individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) >30 kg/m2.