Lecithin is a naturally occurring group of phospholipids found in nearly every living cell. Lecithin is a natural dietary source of essential phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidyl serine. These phospholipids are the building blocks of life and are vital for healthy function of every cell membrane in the body.
Lecithin consists of fatty acids and the nutrient choline. Because choline deficiency causes abnormal liver function, the scientists thought lecithin’s protective effect might be due to choline. However, they found that only lecithin, not its choline or fatty-acid components, protected the liver. Another liver disorder is cirrhosis a life-threatening condition, which the liver becomes filled with fibrous tissue, and as the result functions poorly. The researchers showed that lecithin may act by increasing the liver’s breakdown of the fibrous tissue that causes cirrhosis. Lecithin aids in the absorption of vitamin B1 (thiamine) by the liver and is needed to help repair the damage to the liver caused by alcoholism.
The body naturally produces lecithin in the liver. Whether consumed in food or produced by the body, lecithin is used to break down bile, remove fat deposits from the liver and transport fats through the bloodstream and into the cells.
Lecithin is also used to produce choline, which helps to metabolise fats, transmit nerve impulses and preserve the myelin sheaths protecting the nerves. Because of these roles, lecithin and choline are used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, high cholesterol levels and liver disorders.
Natural sources of lecithin in alphabetical order
Related subjects
- A-Z of nutrients
- Alzheimers disease
- Brain and mental health disorders
- Heart disorders
- Liver disorders
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