Phosphatidylcholine (PC)

Phosphatidylcholine:

    • Phosphatidylcholine is a molecule that contains two fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone with a phosphate group and choline. A key element in your cell walls is needed to regulate the rate of cell death and to make healthy new cells, to replace the 2.5 million that die every second.
    • Produces cell membranes, enabling your cells to absorb nutrients and repel harmful ingredients. Without enough new cells, you might develop pain, fatigue, inflammation and fatty liver.
    • Phosphatidylcholine is also responsible for the production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
    • Apart from its role in maintaining cell structure, phosphatidylcholine is an integral component of the pulmonary surfactant – a mixture of fats and proteins lining our lungs that make it possible for us to breathe is one of the main components of mucus that lines and protects our gut, improves communication between nerves by increasing choline and acetylcholine levels in the brain, improves liver health helps breaks down fats.
    • Phosphatidylcholine levels may decrease as we age. For example, in the brain, there is a 10% reduction between age 40 and age 100.

Uses:

  • Can be used to level out elevated cortisol levels.
    • Histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT) can be stimulated by Phosphatidylcholine.
    • Used to treat brain and liver disease as well as atherosclerosis.
    • To remove toxic metals phosphatidylcholine can be used with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Low Phosphatidylcholine:

    • Low levels of phosphatidylcholine in the brain are associated with Alzheimer disease. On the other hand, high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (the fatty acid which is attached to phosphatidylcholine in the brain) are associated with decreased risk of dementia.
    • Low phosphatidylcholine levels in certain brain areas are associated with schizophrenia.
    • Low levels of phosphatidylcholine in the liver are associated with fatty liver (NAFLD).
    • Low levels of phosphatidylcholine are associated with ulcerative colitis.
    • Because choline is needed to make phosphatidylcholine, low choline levels can limit its production. Choline deficiency can decrease phosphatidylcholine levels in the liver, leading to liver failure.

Memory:

    • Low levels of phosphatidylcholine are associated with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.
    • A study (DB-RCT) of 80 healthy young adults found that phosphatidylcholine supplementation improved memory.
    • Phosphatidylcholine increases the levels of choline and acetylcholine in the brain and improves memory and protects the brain in mice with dementia.

Liver Health:

    • Phosphatidylcholine is needed to make Bile-a substance produced by the liver-that helps you absorb fat, fat-soluble vitamins, and regulate the bacteria in your small intestine. It flows from your liver into your gallbladder, so if your methylation is compromised, watch for gallbladder problems.
    • An animal study showed that phosphatidylcholine can promote liver regeneration.
    • Low levels of choline and phosphatidylcholine can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as the name implies, is a disease in which fat build up in the liver due to causes other than alcohol.
    • A study (DB-RCT) using a combination of milk thistle (silybin) and phosphatidylcholine treatment showed a significant improvement in liver enzymes, insulin resistance, and liver tissue in 179 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
    • Choline supplementation increases the ratio of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidyl ethanol (PE) in the liver. This may prevent progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and increase the chance of survival after liver surgery.

Viral Hepatitis:

    • A trial (DB-RCT) in 176 patients showed that phosphatidylcholine helped treat chronic hepatitis C but not hepatitis B.
    • Another study (DB-RCT) trial of 15 patients showed that phosphatidylcholine helped treat chronic hepatitis B.
    • However, phosphatidylcholine was not effective in treating acute viral hepatitis in a study of 22 patients.

Fat Breakdown (Lipolysis) And Weight Loss:

    • Fat breakdown involves the breakdown of triglyceride into glycerol and free fatty acids.
    • Phosphatidylcholine increases the production of PPAR gamma receptor, responsible for the breakdown of fats.
    • Phosphatidylcholine injections directly into the fat tissue can cause fat breakdown and can be used as an alternative to surgery. They can also help with lipomas, benign tumors caused by the buildup of fat.
    • A study (RCT) of 13 women showed that phosphatidylcholine injections reduced body fat and can be used for weight loss intervention.
    • Phosphatidylcholine injections reduced fat in the eyelids of 30 patients, acting as an alternative to eyelid surgery.
    • However, in a study (DB-PCT) of 26 subjects, phosphatidylcholine supplementation increased triglyceride levels in the blood.

Inflammation:

    • Treatment with phosphatidylcholine decreased inflammation and white blood cell reaction related to arthritis in rats. Dietary phosphatidylcholine decreased inflammatory white blood cell levels and inflammation in mice. Dietary phosphatidylcholine improved rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in mice.
    • A cell study showed that phosphatidylcholine prevents the inflammation caused by TNF-α.

Neurons:

    • Inflammation can decrease the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region important for learning and memory. Phosphatidylcholine prevented this decrease in mice by decreasing TNF-alpha levels.
    • Lecithin, a mixture of fats including phosphatidylcholine, increased antioxidant enzymes (MDA, CAT) in rat brains damaged by a lack of blood flow and oxygen.

Fetal Brain Development:

    • Prenatal phosphatidylcholine supplementation may promote normal brain circuit function in the fetus and decreases the risk of mental illnesses.
    • In a study (RCT) of 100 pregnant women, phosphatidylcholine supplementation ensured proper brain development in the fetuses’ brains and prevented the delay in certain areas of brain development in fetuses that were genetically susceptible to schizophrenia.

Bipolar Disorder:

    • A case study of a bipolar boy showed that phosphatidylcholine supplementation improved sleep and helped with his symptoms of hypomania (a mild form of mania, which is a period of euphoria or great excitement).
    • In one study, high phosphatidylcholine levels in the white matter of the brain were associated with bipolar disorder. However, another study of 104 adults found no changes in phosphatidylcholine levels between people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or healthy individuals.

Ulcerative Colitis (IBD):

    • Four studies (DB-RCTs) of 316 patients with ulcerative colitis found that phosphatidylcholine supplementation reduced disease severity and improved quality of life. It also decreased dependence on corticosteroids in patients taking them.

NSAIDs:

    • Studies (RCT) of 345 healthy subjects showed that phosphatidylcholine protected the stomach from injuries caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
    • Studies also showed that phosphatidylcholine reduces the toxicity of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and increased their therapeutic properties in rats.

SAMe:

    • In the methyl cycle, one-third of generated SAMe is used to generate Phosphatidylcholine. It takes 3 SAMes to produce one of these.
    • Increases the demand for SAMe and SAH. The enzyme that uses SAMe to create SAH and generates phosphatidylcholine is inhibited when phosphatidylcholine levels are high. Increasing the supply of SAMe stimulating BHMT Turi methylate homocysteine back into SAMe is good for your brain, liver and blood vessels.

Gallstones:

    • Dietary phosphatidylcholine prevented the formation of gallbladder stones in mice.

Side Effects and Risks:

While there are no reported side effects in the literature, user reports the following side effects of oral phosphatidylcholine:

    • Excessive Sweating
    • Stomach Upset
    • Diarrhea
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting

Side effects of phosphatidylcholine injections include :

    • Irritation
    • Swelling
    • Redness
    • Itching
    • Burning
    • Bruising
    • Pain
    • Dizziness
    • Phosphatidylcholine injections directly in a fatty growth may cause inflammation or tissue death (necrosis). Safety of long-term use is uncertain.
    • Phosphatidylcholine injections directly in a fatty growth should be avoided by pregnant women and people with heart disease, kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes or hypothyroidism, infections, active or previous autoimmune disease, or active skin disorders.

Heart Diseases:

    • Byproducts of dietary phosphatidylcholine include choline, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and betaine, which increase the risk of atherosclerosis(hardening of the arteries), coronary heart disease, stroke and other heart diseases. Mainly TMAO increases the risk for heart diseases but choline and betaine produce TMAO. However, the link between TMAO and heart disease is controversial and still debated in scientific literature.
    • Phosphatidylcholine supplementation may increase triglyceride levels in the blood. However, in 26 healthy men, phosphatidylcholine decreased homocysteine levels, which are a potential risk factor for heart disease, compared to placebo.

Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy:

  • group VI helps to regulate the levels of phosphatidylcholine.

Dosage:

    • Phosphatidylcholine can be administered in capsules, tablets, and injections.
    • Clinical studies have used various oral phosphatidylcholine doses, ranging from 0.5 g to 4 g per day for up to 12 weeks.
    • Phosphatidylcholine injections for fat reduction contain between 40 ccs and 60 ccs.

User Experiences:

    • One user reported that using phosphatidylcholine for a few years reversed his fatty liver and returned his high liver enzymes back to normal.
    • Another user reported that over a period of nearly two months their belly fat “decreased tremendously.”
    • A user who received phosphatidylcholine injections said they were rushed to the ER twice due to the therapy: “My blood pressure plummeted and required 4 bags of IV fluid before I stabilized. There are serious adverse effects to mesotherapy. The public needs to know there ARE risks other than swelling and bruising.”
    • One user who took phosphatidylcholine for three years had outstanding results. They said that “The difference is very obvious if I miss a few days. Though I take phosphatidylcholine primarily as a memory boost, I believe it has done wonders for my overall health.”

Genes:

  • PLD1 gene-This gene encodes a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase.
  • LCAT gene-Found in name or synonym: phosphatidylcholine-sterol acyltransferase
  • PCYT1A gene-phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Mutations in this gene are associated with spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.
  • PTDSS1 gene-phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine localizes to the mitochondria-associated membrane
  • CHKB gene-phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine in all animal cells.
  • PLA2G5 gene-It preferentially hydrolyzes linoleoyl-containing phosphatidylcholine substrates.
  • ABCB4 gene-Related term: phosphatidylcholine
  • PLA2G6 gene-helps to regulate the levels of a compound called phosphatidylcholine, which is abundant in the cell

Sources of Phosphatidylcholine:

    • Egg yolks (6,771 mg/100g)
    • Pig liver (1,668 mg/100g)
    • Chicken liver (1,120 mg/100g)
    • Soybeans (917 mg/100g)
    • Squid (777 mg/100g)
    • Chicken breast (391 mg/100g)
    • Beef (408 mg/100g)
    • Peanuts (270 mg/100g)
    • Cod (331 mg/100g)
    • Spinach (37 mg/100g)
    • Potato (38 mg/100g)
    • Carrot (23 mg/100g)
    • Apple (21 mg/100g)
    • Cow’s milk (12 mg/100g)