Lecithin

Lecithin

• What Is It and How Does It Work in the Body?

  • Lecithin is a mixture comprised of choline, choline esters, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, phosphoric acid, and phospholipids. It is a compound found in animals and vegetables, such as red meat, eggs, peanuts, and oranges. In athletes, it can help reduce choline levels in the plasma that increase during physical stress. There is also some evidence that it can help in certain conditions due to its properties of phosphatidylcholine and lipids, although its exact mechanism is not yet fully understood. In CNS disorders, phosphatidylcholine is a precursor for acetylcholine, and higher levels can result in improved memory.

• What Is It Used for and at What Dosage?

  • Lecithin can be used for athletic performance, CNS disorders, contact lenses, diabetes, GI conditions, lactation, menopause, and muscle atrophy. In patients with bipolar disorder, a dose of 10 mg three times daily was seen to decrease hallucinations, delusions, and improved speech. In memory disorders, studies have been performed to measure if high doses of 20-25 g per day of lecithin result in better outcomes. In neurologic disorders with acetylcholine deficiency, studies have been performed with doses from 25 g per day to 50-60 g per day.

• Evidence for or Against Its Different Uses (Broken Down by Evidence for Each Use):

  • For Alzheimer patients, it was found that there may be a window in which lecithin can help; however, in a multicenter study, where tacrine and lecithin were used, there was no improvement in mental status. In one study, ten patients with Friedrich ataxia improved. However, in a Cochrane review, there was no difference between placebo and lecithin in management of antipsychotic induced tardive dyskinesia. In contact lenses, there was a study done to evaluate the effects of ocular lipid-based supplements on ocular comfort. There was no correlation between ocular comfort and lipid layers. In a study looking at the dietary intake of phosphatidylcholine on type 2 diabetes, there was an associated lower risk of type II diabetes development in men. Lecithin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as it can function as a protective component of colonic mucus that can increase the intestinal hydrophobic barrier. This is essential in ulcerative colitis patients who have a loss in intestinal integrity. There is very limited evidence in lecithin uses for hypercholesterolemia, lactation, liver disease, menopause, and muscle atrophy. However, there is some evidence to show that supplementing lecithin can influence bile secretion and decrease cardiovascular risk.

• Safety Concerns, Side Effects, and Precautions:

  • Generally, there are not many safety concerns with lecithin when used in moderation. However, in large doses of more than 25 g/day, there are short-term side effects of gastrointestinal stress, sweating, salivation, or anorexia.

• Interactions with Medications:

  • Interactions are not well studied or documented yet in the literature.