Lecithin is usually used as synonym for phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid which is the major component of a phosphatide fraction which may be isolated from either eggyolk (in Greek lekithos - λεκιθος), or soy beans. It is commercially available in high purity as a food supplement and for medical uses.
Nervous and circulatory lecithin is produced by the liver if the diet is adequate. It is needed by every cell in the body and is a key building block of cell membranes; without it, they would harden. Lecithin protects cells from oxidation and largely comprises the protective sheaths surrounding the brain. It is composed mostly of B vitamins, phosphoric acid, choline, linoleic acid and inositol. Hence, it supports the circulatory system.
As a food additive
Lecithin is regarded as a well tolerated and non-toxic surfactant. It is approved by the United StatesFood and Drug Administration for human consumption with the status "Generally Recognized As Safe". Lecithin is an integral part of cell membranes, and can be totally metabolised, so it is virtually non-toxic to humans. Other emulsifiers can only be excreted via the kidneys.
Lecithin is used commercially for anything requiring a natural emulsifier and/or lubricant, from pharmaceuticals to protective coverings. For example, lecithin is the emulsifier that keeps chocolate and cocoa butter in a candy bar from separating.
Various studies (Brook et al 1986, Spilburg et al 2003) indicate that soy-derived lecithin may positively affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
Egg-derived lecithin may be a concern for certain diets; it is considered pareve (neutral, e.g. may be mixed with both meat and dairy) under kashrut, but is restricted under sharia.
Brook JG, Linn S, Aviram M. Dietary soya lecithin decreases plasma triglyceride levels and inhibits collagen-and ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Biochem Med Metab Biol 1986;35:31-9. PMID 3778675.
Spilburg CA, Goldberg AC, McGill JB, Stenson WF, Racette SB, Bateman J, McPherson TB, Ostlund RE Jr. Fat-free foods supplemented with soy stanol-lecithin powder reduce cholesterol absorption and LDL cholesterol. J Am Diet Assoc 2003;103:577-81. PMID 12728215.
External links
Introduction to Lecithin (http://www2.chemie.uni-erlangen.de/services/dissonline/data/dissertation/Christoph_Wabel/html/Chapter1.html) (University of Erlangen)
Phosphatidylcholine was initially used in emergencies and in the treatment of atheroma plaques in cardiac diseases.
Phosphatidylcholine is a phospholipid extracted from soybean lecithin present in abundance in cell membranes, actively participating in the structure and transport between the cells (1).
Phosphatidylcholine seems to be efficacious and effective in these cases, representing a new, less invasive, and potentially promising treatment for conditions which include "buffalo-hump" (an unaesthetic condition related with HIV fat redistribution syndrome, or FRS), lipomas, eye bulging (12), and xanthelasmas.
Phosphatidylcholine, which is a polar lipid, is present in commercial lecithin in concentrations of 20 to 90%.
Phosphatidylcholine is absorbed into the mucosal cells of the small intestine, mainly in the duodenum and upper jejunum, following some digestion by the pancreatic enzyme phospholipase, producing lysophosphatidylcholine (lysolecithin).
Phosphatidylcholine is transported in the blood in various lipoprotein particles, including very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL); it is then distributed to the various tissues of the body.
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