Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences repetitive thoughts, known as obsessions, combined with an unrelenting need to perform repetitive behaviors, known as compulsions. An individual living with this disorder likely experienced significant impairment in her everyday life, as the obsessive thoughts and subsequent compulsions become the foundation for her predominant behavioral patterns. Medications and psychotherapy are generally at the forefront of treatment for OCD; however, some supplements, such as choline and inositol, may also help decrease symptoms. Check with your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
Choline
Choline is a nutrient produced in part by your body and is also extracted from foods you eat. This nutrient is used by your body to manufacturer neurotransmitters that are responsible for the integrity of your memory as well as motor function. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a deficiency of choline has been associated with decreased LDL, or "good" cholesterol, and liver and muscle damage. Choline plays a role as a precursor or co-factor for several other nutrients, including S-adenosyl methionine, known as SAM-e, and homocysteine.
Inositol
Inositol is a biochemical that is a precursor to several different neurochemicals that are important for communication between cells. The American Cancer Society explains that inositol may help decrease both the size and incidence of tumors. The Society adds that this effect appears to be attributed to inositol's ability to impair the cellular message that causes cells to replicate out of control, which is the cause of cancerous tumors. Inositol is found in foods that are naturally high in dietary fiber, including brown rice and other whole grains.
Research Regarding Choline, Inositol and OCD
Both choline and inositol have shown some promise in helping to reduce the symptoms of OCD. Dr. Frederick Penzel of Western Suffolk Psychological Services explains that in his practice, he and his colleagues have administered adjunctive inositol to patients with OCD who were also administered anti-depressants. He explains that this co-administration is based on scientific research and it appears to also be effective for many of his patients. Additionally, a 2003 study published in "Biological Psychiatry" found that pediatric patients with OCD had altered choline levels that were significant enough to differentiate patients from individuals without the disorder.
Considerations
Inositol and choline are often combined in dietary supplement; however, evidence of their effect in people with OCD appears to be limited to isolated studies of each. Lecithin, which is a lipid available in granular form at your local health-food store, contains both choline and inositol. This supplement is extracted from soybeans, can be added to foods like cereals, and is considered to be relatively safe to use. High dosages however, can cause problems for some people, like upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant or have a pre-existing health condition, check with your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Choline; Jane Higdon, Ph.D., et al.; Nov. 2003
- National Institute of Mental Health: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD
- American Cancer Society: Inositol Hexaphosphate
- Western Suffolk Psychological Services; Inositol and OCD; Frederick Penzel, Ph.D.
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Lecithin
- "Biological Psychiatry"; Increased Medial Thalamic Choline Found in Pediatric Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Versus Major Depression or Healthy Control Subjects: a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study.; E. A. Smith, et al.; 2003
