Supplements

Choline (Phosphatidylcholine) / Lecithin

Choline is one of the few substances able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which ordinarily protects the brain against variations in the daily diet, and go directly into the brain cells to produce a chemical that aids memory. Because of this ability, Choline is beneficial for disorders of the nervous system such as Parkinson's disease and tardive dyskinesia.

Choline is found in breast milk. Without it, infants would develop severe neural abnormalities, the nutrient choline contributes to the production of myelin, the protective casing that surrounds nerves and brain cells.

Phosphatidylcholine (a compound found in lecithin) and choline may both help ease the involuntary movements and spasms that are characteristic of Huntington's disease and Tourette's syndrome. Studies have shown that taking lecithin can decrease cholesterol levels and may be an effective way to treat arteriosclerosis. It is needed for the proper transmission of nerve impulses from the brain through the central nervous system, as well as for gallbladder regulation.

Choline assists the liver in processing fats. A low-choline diet can result in liver disease or even liver cancer, caused by abnormal fat metabolism, high cholesterol, and triglycerides accumulate in the liver causing fatty liver disease. Choline can clear the fat and reverse the disease entirely.

Choline is key for nutritional therapy as it relates to a number of women's health issues, including, uterine fibroids, fibroids, fibrocystic breast syndrome, endometriosis, and breast and endometrial cancer. Choline, inositol, and methionine are the combined treatment for these afflictions. They help the liver to convert estradiol into estriol, a less carcinogenic form of the hormone.

Deficiency: Cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, Parkinson's disease, baldness, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, eczema, alcoholism, hypertension, diseases of the nervous system, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), memory loss, possibly Alzheimer's disease.

Depleting Agents: Water, sulfa drugs, estrogen, food processing, alcohols, excess sugar consumption.

Sources: Egg yolks, brain, heart, green leafy vegetables, lecithin (about 13% of choline by weight) legumes, meat, milk, nuts, soybeans, and whole-grain cereals.

Precautions: High doses of lecithin and choline should be accompanied by additional vitamin C and calcium. Vitamin C serves to protect us from the nitrosamines that can be generated during choline metabolism, and calcium is required to tie up the extra phosphorus that lecithin contains. Always take choline with your other B vitamins. If you are often nervous it might help to increase your choline. There are no known side effects; however, very large doses may produce nausea, dizziness or diarrhea.

Dosage Ranges and Duration of Administration: Daily doses most commonly used are 500 to 1,000 milligrams. Dr. Atkins recommends, for neurological problems and memory enhancement, between 1 and 4 teaspoons a day of liquid lecithin. Phosphatidylcholine supplements are a good way to get choline nutrition, and have been safely used in doses as high as 35 grams a day.