The associations between phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene, dietary choline intake and anxiety and depression in healthy UK adults

Abstract

Mental illness presents a serious public health concern worldwide. In England, one in six adults met the criteria for a common mental disorder (CMD) such as anxiety or depression in 2014. Moreover, women were more likely to experience CMD symptoms than men (1). Diet has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for depression and anxiety and may serve as a strategy for successful prevention of such disorders (2). Low levels of choline, which acts as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and can be obtained from foods such as eggs or liver, may be associated with anxiety and depression (3). Endogenous choline synthesis depends on the activity of the Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) gene which may be determined by the rs4646343 variant (4). It is hypothesised that carriers of the T risk allele may require larger amounts of dietary choline to compensate for lower PEMT activity and choline levels. However, research on the topic is scarce, especially in the UK, where no dietary recommendations for this essential nutrient are established. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between PEMT rs4646343, dietary choline and anxiety and depression. Forty-five healthy UK adults (15 male and 30 female, mean age 33 ± 7.8 years and body mass index 23.3 ± 2.9 kg/m2) took part in this cross-sectional study. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva and participants were genotyped for the PEMT rs4646343. Three-day food diaries were collected via Libro app (Nutritics LTD, Ireland). Choline intake was quantified using the United States Department of Agriculture food composition database considering it is not a part of the UK food composition tables. Anxiety and depression scores were calculated with the validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Overall questionnaire scores were included as continuous variables in the analyses. Participants were also categorised as normal (45%), borderline (22%) or abnormal (33%) cases for anxiety and depression. Study was approved by the St Mary's University Ethics SubCommittee (SMEC_2018-19_028). Sixty seven percent of the study population consumed less than 400 mg of choline; the recommended amount set by the European Food Safety Authority. There was a negative correlation between choline intake and anxiety (r =-0.421, p = 0.009, Spearman's correlation). The mean anxiety score for females was 9.9 ± 0.8 and males 5.3 ± 0.7 (p = 0.002, Mann-Whitney U test). Within the abnormal anxiety group, the mean anxiety scores were higher in carriers of the rs4646343 risk allele compared to those homozygous for the G allele (GT+TT 13.8 ± 2.3 vs GG 11.5 ± 1.2, p = 0.018, Mann-Whitney U test). PEMT gene and choline intake may play a role in anxiety levels, however, further research in larger populations is needed to elucidate this relationship.

Metabolites and novel compounds with anti-microbial or antiaging activities from Cordyceps fumosorosea

“…Bioactivities of N 6 -(2-hydroxyethylacetate) adenosine and linoleoyl-glycero-phosphocholine have been reported already (Kim et al 2014 ; Harrison et al 2020 ; Papandreou et al 2021 ; Azarcoya-Barrera et al 2021 ), therefore we just submitted the 3 novel compounds for bioactivity studies. Because Cordyceps are presumed to contain antibiotics and antiaging compounds (Ji et al 2008 ; Schmidt et al 2003 ; Olatunji et al 2018 ; He et al 2018 ), the isolated novel compounds were submitted to antimicrobial and antiaging tests.…”

Bioactive Compounds for Customized Brain Health: What Are We and Where Should We Be Heading?

“…For instance, the phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PEMT) gene is activated by estrogen and catalyzes the de novo synthesis of choline (from phosphatidylcholine), which is crucial for the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and regulation of the dopaminergic system [26]. Aberrant PEMT activity was linked to neurological dysfunction [27,28]. Men and menopausal women have higher nutrient needs for choline [29], which directly impacts their brain health, supporting the notion of personalized dietary therapy.…”