Higher dietary choline and betaine intakes are associated with lower likelihood of central nervous system demyelination in Australian women
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: Choline and betaine may be neuroprotective; however, the role of choline and betaine obtained from food in multiple sclerosis (MS) onset in humans is unclear. We aimed to test associations between intake of choline and betaine from food and likelihood of a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD). METHODS: We used data from the Ausimmune Study, a large, multi-centre case–control study conducted in four latitudinally diverse regions of Australia. Choline and betaine intakes were derived from food composition data sourced globally and dietary intake data collected using a self-administered, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. We used the alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMED) as a measure of diet quality. We applied logistic regression with full propensity score matching (264 cases, 474 controls) and stratified by sex (females: 205 cases/368 controls; males 59 cases/106 controls) to test associations between dietary choline and betaine intakes (per 50 mg/day) and likelihood of an FCD. Models were adjusted for age, region, education, smoking history, history of infectious mononucleosis, deseasonalised serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, total energy intake, dietary misreporting and aMED, and bootstrapped (500 replicates). RESULTS: Independent of an overall healthy diet, higher choline intake (OR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.84–1.00; p = 0.05) and higher combined choline + betaine intake (OR = 0.92; 95%CI 0.86–0.99; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with lower likelihood of FCD in females only. We found no statistically significant associations in males (small sample). CONCLUSION: Given the potential beneficial role of choline and betaine in MS, investigation of associations and any diet- or sex-specific influences in other populations is warranted.
Source: European Journal of Nutrition
Authors: Paul Bailey, Hajar Mazahery, Lucinda J. Black, Alison Daly, Yasmine Probst, Ingrid van der Mei, Eleanor Dunlop, the Ausimmune/AusLong Investigators, Robyn M. Lucas, Anne-Louise Ponsonby, Terry Dwyer, Leigh Blizzard, Steve Simpson-Yap, Alice M. Saul, Bruce V. Taylor, Simon Broadley, Trevor Kilpatrick, Jeanette Lechner-Scott, Lucinda Black, Patricia Valery, Cameron Shaw, David Williams, Caron Chapman, Alan Coulthard, Michael P. Pender, Keith Dear, David Williams, Susan Agland, Barbara Alexander, Marcia Davis, Zoe Dunlop, Rosalie Scott, Marie Steele, Catherine Turner, Brenda Wood, Jane Gresham, Camilla Jozwick, Helen Rodgers, Roxanne Maher, Kate Smith, Talia Nichols
Institutions: Curtin University, Deakin University, University of Wollongong, University of Tasmania, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australian National University, Griffith University, Barwon Health, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, ACT Government
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
OpenAlex ID: W7128926919