Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between dietary choices and brain choline (Cho) levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: A total of 88 female students from the radiology department at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, participated in this study. Brain total choline (tCho) levels were estimated using MRS single volume sequence at a 3 Tesla field, with an echo time of 30 ms, repetition time of 2000 ms, voxel size of 15x15x15 mm, and water suppression bandwidth of 50 Hz. Participants' food consumption habits were assessed using a dietary questionnaire to quantify the amount of protein in their daily servings, as protein intake affects Cho levels in the brain. RESULTS: Linear regression test applied using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, and the result showed significant impact of diet protein intake on the brain tCho level (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicated that dietary choices significantly affect the levels of tCho in the brain. This research can serve as a baseline for health education, highlighting the close connection between dietary decisions and brain Cho levels. Understanding this relationship is essential for promoting a healthy lifestyle among younger generations.