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Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine is a chemical found in eggs, soybeans, mustard, sunflower and other foods. The term phosphatidylcholine is sometimes used as a synonym for lecithin, even though these are two different substances that are closely related but not identical. Because the body uses phosphatidylcholine to make a brain chemical called acetylcholine, there is interest in using phosphatidylcholine to treat brain-related conditions such as memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, manic depressive disorder and a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.

Phosphatidylcholine is also used to treat hepatitis, eczema, gallbladder disorders, circulatory problems, high cholesterol levels and premenstrual syndrome, as well as to improve the effectiveness of kidney dialysis, stimulate immune system function and prevent aging. Doctors sometimes administer phosphatidylcholine intravenously for chest pain, fat embolism, high cholesterol levels, liver disease and fatty plaque deposits in the arteries. Phosphatidylcholine is injected subcutaneously directly under the skin for the treatment of lipomas, excessive fat deposits in the eyelid area and yellowish cholesterol deposits.

Phosphatidylcholine is the primary active ingredient in cosmetic injectables used to "dissolve" fat. Some cosmetic centers initially used the intravenous prescription drug Lipostabil for this purpose. They used this drug subcutaneously for cosmetic purposes, although the manufacturer does not market this product for this purpose due to a lack of reliable research. In some countries, the cosmetic use of Lipostabil is now banned.

How does phosphatidylcholine work?

The body produces a brain chemical called acetylcholine from phosphatidylcholine. Acetylcholine is important for memory and other bodily functions. Since phosphatidylcholine could increase acetylcholine levels, there is interest in using it to improve memory and for diseases such as Alzheimer's. Some scientists believe that phosphatidylcholine acts like a solvent and breaks down fat. A particular form of phosphatidylcholine, called polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine, may protect against liver fibrosis and liver damage caused by alcohol consumption, although the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood.

How effective is phosphatidylcholine?

Phosphatidylcholine may be ineffective for hepatitis A, a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia and for improving the effect of a medical procedure called peritoneal dialysis.

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine in the following applications.

Reduction of fat deposits: New research suggests that localized fat deposits on the chin, thighs, hips, abdomen, back, neck and other areas appear smaller after phosphatidylcholine injections under the skin. These improvements appear to last for 2 to 3 years or longer. In one study, 80% of patients reported an improvement in facial fat deposits that lasted for 3 years. However, these results have been questioned due to poor study design.

Treatment of lipomas (fatty tumors under the skin): There is a report that injecting phosphatidylcholine directly into a lipoma shrinks the tumor by 35%. In this patient, however, there was a reaction to the treatment that led to undesirable changes in the lipoma. Ultimately, the lipoma had to be surgically removed.

Fat around the eyelids: There is evidence that phosphatidylcholine injections can significantly reduce fat deposits around the eyelids in some people. For some, these improvements appear to last for 9 months to 2 years or longer.

Hepatitis B: Studies on the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine for hepatitis B show conflicting results.

Memory loss: There is preliminary evidence that taking a single dose of 25 mg phosphatidylcholine (PC-55, Twinlab) may improve some markers of memory performance in healthy college students.

There is also a lack of scientific information on the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine for anxiety, eczema, gallbladder disease, manic-depressive illness, circulatory disorders in the arms and legs, high cholesterol levels, premenstrual syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and suppressed immune function, as well as its use to support weight loss and prevent aging. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Phosphatidylcholine is potentially safe and harmless when taken orally or injected for short-term use. The safety of long-term use is not known. When phosphatidylcholine is taken orally, it can sometimes cause excessive sweating, stomach upset and diarrhea. Phosphatidylcholine injections can cause irritation, redness, itching, burning, bruising and pain at the injection site. These side effects usually disappear after a few days. When phosphatidylcholine is injected directly into a lipoma, it can cause an inflammatory reaction that makes the tumor more fibrotic. In one case, the lipoma had to be surgically removed after a phosphatidylcholine injection.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of phosphatidylcholine during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid phosphatidylcholine.

Interactions

Caution should be exercised when combining phosphatidylcholine with the following medications:

Desiccant medications (anticholinergic agents)

Some drying drugs are known as anticholinergic drugs. Phosphatidylcholine may increase the levels of chemicals that reduce the effects of these drying medications.

Medications for Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors

Phosphatidylcholine may increase the levels of the chemical acetylcholine in the body. Medications for Alzheimer's called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors also increase acetylcholine levels. Taking phosphatidylcholine in conjunction with these medications could increase the effects and side effects of these medications.

Various drugs for glaucoma, Alzheimer's or other diseases (cholinergic drugs)

Phosphatidylcholine may increase the levels of the chemical acetylcholine in the body. This chemical is similar to some drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma and other conditions. Taking phosphatidylcholine in conjunction with these medications could increase the risk of side effects from these medications.

Dosage

The following dosages have been studied in scientific research:

References

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