What Factors Affect a Sufficient Lecithin Dose?

Lecithin, also known as yolk, is known as the "third nutrient" alongside protein and vitamins. However, few people really know about lecithin. In 1844, the Frenchman Gohley discovered lecithin from egg yolk and named it Lecithos (lecithin) in Greek. The generic drug name Lecithin also unveiled its mystery.

Chinese name: Lecithin
Foreign name: lecithin
Whether it contains preservatives: no

Main nutrients: Phosphatidylcholine, unsaturated fatty acid
Main edible effects: Decomposes excess large particles of fat, replenishes acetylcholine, replenishes energy
Storage method: Protect from light and refrigerate

Lecithin Research History

In 1812, phospholipids were first removed from the human brain by Uauquelin

Products with a lecithin content above 70%, referred to as PC70 Found in.

In 1844, scientist Golbley was isolated from the egg yolk, and in 1850 was named Lecithin (lecithin) after the Greek word lekithos.

In 1861, scientist Topler discovered the presence of phospholipids from plant seeds.

In 1925, scientist Leven separated lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) from other phospholipids.

In 1930, soybean phospholipids were discovered to be the most abundant to date.

Since the 1990s, phospholipid research has achieved remarkable results in the fields of life sciences and brain sciences ^[1] .

Lecithin Basic Dosage Form

The main formulations of industrial lecithin are: liquid, granule and powder. The liquid concentration is about 60%, and the granule and powder can reach more than 95%.

The dosage forms of popular lecithin products are: "soft capsules" and "granules", and a small number of products are tablets and powders.

Lecithin soft capsule is made of liquid lecithin as raw material, diluted with glycerin or soybean oil, and then wrapped with gelatin. Although it is convenient to take, the content of active ingredients is generally less than 60%, and more food additives are added. The price is lower, but you need to increase the amount. Is the dosage form used by most brands of lecithin.

Lecithin granules are mainly made by direct packing of granular lecithin products, or by adding granulating agents to reduce the viscosity of the granules. Due to the high effective content, it is usually greater than 95% (up to 98%), and Less or no food additives, so higher absorption efficiency, healthier for the human body, compared to lecithin soft capsules with low purity, containing a large amount of oil , which can only be swallowed , It has the unique advantages of being fat and chewing . But the price is relatively high. So there are fewer brands of lecithin particles. ^[2]

Lecithin production process

Lecithin production generally uses the following processes:

Ethanol extraction: The principle is that lecithin is soluble in ethanol, and other phospholipids: brain phospholipid and inositol phospholipid are insoluble in ethanol.
Layered column analysis: The principle is that the adsorbents have different adsorption capacities for cerebral phospholipids, inositol phospholipids, and lecithin.
Co2 supercritical extraction: The principle is the abnormal equilibrium behavior and transfer performance of Co2 and lecithin at the supercritical point. Different components are separated under varying temperature and pressure.
Membrane separation method: The principle is to use different lecithin, brain phospholipid, and inositol phospholipids to form different molecular weights in different solvents to separate them. The content of lecithin can be increased from 25% to 51%, and the solution flowing through the membrane can be recovered and recovered, which can greatly improve the purity of lecithin. However, this method is not very mature and cannot distinguish components with similar molecular weights. Currently limited to laboratories.

Lecithin is suitable for people

1. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that phospholipids must be added to infant formula.

2. Students, intellectuals, and middle-aged and elderly: Lecithin can enhance brain vitality, eliminate brain fatigue, enhance memory, and improve learning and work efficiency. It can repair damaged brain cells and prevent the occurrence of senile dementia.

3. Patients with long-term drinking, excess nutrition, and fatty liver: Take 10-15 grams of lecithin daily. After 3-5 months, the blood lipid index can return to normal levels.

4. Patients with diabetes: Consumption of more than 20 grams of soybean lecithin per day, the recovery rate of patients with diabetes is quite obvious, and many patients do not need to inject insulin again. It is more effective for patients with complications such as diabetic gangrene and arteriosclerosis.

5. Patients with gallstones: Taking soy lecithin daily can not only prevent the formation of gallstones, but also can decompose and eliminate the gallstones that have formed.

6. Ms. Amy: Lecithin is a natural antidote that can break down toxins in the body. By increasing hemoglobin, it provides skin with sufficient nutrients such as water and oxygen to make the skin smooth and soft

7, constipation: Lecithin can promote gastrointestinal blood circulation and gastrointestinal motility, and help prevent and improve constipation.

8. Smokers should add more lecithin. The content of lecithin in the lungs of smokers is only 1/7 of that of non-smokers. Lecithin is very hydrophilic and can keep the alveoli moist, thereby increasing the body's oxygen intake. Smokers generally have dry alveoli and insufficient oxygen uptake, so they should add more lecithin. ^[3]

9. Children, underweight pregnant mothers or the elderly who are relatively weak, can take lecithin with milk, soy milk and fruit juice at the same time to supplement nutrition. The daily intake is 800-1000 mg.

Nutritional benefits of lecithin

1. Human nutritional needs

90% of the exogenous choline needed by the human body is provided by lecithin. Lecithin provides choline for two major benefits: First, unlike free choline, which is degraded to methylamine by the action of microorganisms in the intestine; second, it is a continuous methyl ester of brain phospholipid (PE) in liver and other fibrous tissue Choline is obtained by chemical conversion, and this synthesis process takes a certain time. Therefore, when dietary choline is insufficient, the endogenous resources of lecithin (PC) remaining in the body can supplement human needs.

2. Regulating effect on serum lipids

Regulating serum lipid levels means lowering cholesterol levels, protecting the liver, also improving memory, strengthening immunity and anti-fatty liver vitality.

3. Effect of cystic fibrosis on fat absorption

Cystic fibrosis is an exocrine gland disorder that is generally caused by limited lipids in the body and insufficient stocks of pancreatic lipase, bile salts, and sodium bicarbonate.

As a result, fat absorption is seriously affected, and 30% to 60% of fat intake is malabsorbed, which can cause fat pupae. Lysophosphatidylcholine can shift intake fat and combine monoglyceride and fatty acid in eutectic matrix. In the presence of sodium bicarbonate ions and bile salts, it becomes easier to absorb.

4. Healthy heart

In the 1960s, scientists discovered that lecithin may have a protective effect on the heart. In further research, it was finally confirmed that lecithin has a positive effect on heart health. This is because it can regulate the content of cholesterol in the human body and effectively reduce the incidence of cholesterol, hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease.

5. Good for the brain

The content of lecithin in brain nerve cells accounts for about 17% to 20% of its mass. "Choline" is the basic component of soybean lecithin. The sufficient supply of lecithin guarantees that sufficient "choline" and "acetyl" in the human body are synthesized into "acetylcholine", and "acetylcholine" is an information-transmitting substance in the brain. So as to increase the degree of activation of brain cells, improve memory and intelligence.

Lecithin has the effect of emulsifying and decomposing oil, can improve blood circulation, improve serum lipids, remove peroxides, reduce blood cholesterol and neutral fat content, reduce the residence time of fat on the inner wall of blood vessels, and promote atherosclerotic plaques. Dissipate and prevent intimal vessel damage caused by cholesterol. Taking lecithin has significant effects on high blood lipids and cholesterol, so it can prevent and treat arteriosclerosis (hypertension, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage).

6. Moisturize the skin

Lecithin is an indispensable substance for every cell in the human body. If it is lacking, it will reduce the regeneration ability of skin cells and cause rough and wrinkled skin. If the lecithin can be properly ingested, the skin's regenerative vitality can be guaranteed, plus the good hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of lecithin, of course, the skin will be shiny. In addition, inositol contained in lecithin is also the main nutrient for hair, which can suppress hair loss and make white hair slowly black.

7. Delay aging

As people get older, their memory declines. The reason is related to the lack of acetylcholine content. Decreased nerve conduction in the brain (acetylcholine) is the main cause of dementia. Acetylcholine is a necessary compound for the transmission of information in the nervous system. And "choline" is the basic component of lecithin. The sufficient supply of lecithin will ensure that there is enough choline in the body to combine with acetyl in the body to become "acetylcholine", thus becoming a sufficient information transmitting substance for the brain, and the brain can directly Lecithin and choline are taken from the blood and quickly converted to acetylcholine. Long-term supplementation of lecithin can slow the process of memory loss and prevent or delay the occurrence of dementia.

8 psychological adjustment

Social competition is becoming increasingly fierce. People have been under a stressful environment and various pressures for a long time. They often suffer from anxiety, irritability, irritability, insomnia, tinnitus and other symptoms, that is, autonomic nervous disorders, which is often called nervous breakdown. Frequent lecithin supplementation can help the brain nerves get nutritional supplements in time, maintain a healthy working state, help to eliminate fatigue, stimulate brain cells, and improve irritability, irritability, and insomnia caused by nervous tension.

The main source of lecithin

Phospholipids and proteins are the most important constituents of cell membranes. Egg yolk is rich in lecithin, and it is found in milk, animal brains, bone marrow, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and soy and yeast. Lecithin is mostly bound to proteins in the body and exists as a fat protein (lipoprotein). Therefore, lecithin exists in nature in a rich posture, so it is recommended that people try to consume enough types of food as much as possible.

Lecithin can make brain nerves get nutritional supplement in time, which is helpful to eliminate fatigue and relieve nervous tension. There is no age limit for lecithin supplementation, and it can be taken from children to the elderly. For fetuses and babies, it is a necessity for neurodevelopment, so mothers can also supplement lecithin appropriately according to their needs. ^[3]

Lecithin purchase method

Lecithins in the market are generally available in granules and capsules. Granular lecithin is spray-dried, and capsule lecithin is supplemented with appropriate fatty acids. For people with dyslipidemia, fatty liver, or obesity, you can choose higher-purity granular lecithin, because these products remove the lipids and sugars from lecithin. ^[3]