Sometimes there is confusion surrounding exactly what makes up lecithin. In biochemistry, lecithin is just another word used for phosphatidylcholine. Generally in other industries and general public knowledge, lecithin is an emulsifying agent that contains anywhere from 20-90% phosphatidylcholine, as well as a variety of other lipids. These other lipids are mostly choline, sterols, and smaller amounts of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and inositol. Lecithin supplements are used for many health benefits, let's explore some. 

Key Health Benefits of Lecithin 

  • Cardiovascular support
  • Improving memory
  • Repairing the liver
  • Supports autoimmune disorders
  • Improves chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Supports multiple sclerosis (MS)

Lecithin As An Emulsifying Agent

It is common knowledge that under normal circumstances oil and water won't mix. The term "emulsifier" is used to describe a substance that is fat-soluble in water. Its emulsifying properties allow it to prevent fatty build-ups in the body, for example in the blood vessels and liver. It can also aid in digestion by helping fat in foods be more easily digested.

Lecithin Supplements and the Liver

Interestingly, your liver naturally produces lecithin in small amounts. The liver requires lecithin to function properly, and supplementation can help to protect the liver against the scarring and cirrhosis caused by chronic alcoholism. Research has also shown that lecithin supplementation can help to slow the degeneration caused by chronic liver diseases like viral hepatitis.

Cholesterol Regulation

A lecithin supplement helps maintain cholesterol levels because its healthy fats help to build up "good" HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty build-up in arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure and prevent the formation of arteriosclerosis.

Memory Support of Lecithin Supplements

Lecithin is a large component of all cell membranes because it regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell. The choline it contains can cross the blood-brain barrier to produce brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that aid in memory - in particular acetylcholine.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support

The protective coating of the brain and nerve cells is also composed of choline. In this respect, lecithin helps to make the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves responsible for conducting messages from the brain to the muscles and organs of your body. In this way, the myelin sheath performs a similar function to the insulation sheathing of electrical wires. If this protective sheath degenerates, a "shorting out" of the message that the nerve is carrying occurs, which can result in the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Top Sources For Lecithin Supplements

Most of the commercially used sources of lecithin for lecithin supplements are extracted from soybeans, although some may be from egg yolk, or sunflower or grape seeds. New research is finding greater value from supplements made from fresh egg yolk. Lecithin can be purchased in capsules, as granules, or even as a liquid. The granules and liquid should be refrigerated for freshness because the essential fatty acid components can go rancid.

Quality Lecithin Supplement Varieties

The general dosage range is between 1200 and 3600mg of lecithin daily in divided doses (often three times daily). For liver and cardiovascular health and as a general nutritional supplement, dosing of lecithin can be on the lower end of the dosage range. It is generally considered best to dose at the highest end of the range for more degenerative conditions like cirrhosis of the liver and multiple sclerosis.