Lecithin
Lecithin provides phospholipids used for liver and lipid-related outcomes. Evidence quality varies by form and endpoint.
Overview
What is lecithin?
Lecithin is a substance comprised of fatty acids that is found in egg yolks, fish and soy products.
Dosage
A typical dose of lecithin is 500-2,000 mg per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most lecithin research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Hyperlipidemia accounts for 4 of 12 studies (33%).
- Tardive dyskinesia accounts for 2 of 12 studies (17%).
- Ulcerative colitis accounts for 2 of 12 studies (17%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Tardive dyskinesia, Ulcerative colitis, Acute stress.
Dietary Sources
Top dietary sources
Food sources
Sources include Chicken Liver, Eggs, Milk, Soy Products (edamame, Tofu), Sunflower Seeds, and Wheat Germ.
Safety
Oral lecithin is likely safe. It is Generally Recognized As Safe in the United States.
Special populations
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Likely safeOral lecithin is likely safe for pregnant and lactating women when used in amounts commonly found in foods or when following typical doses in supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources12 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Acute stress
1 reference1.SupplementDEX Database: Acute stress — Effects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stress2004
In 20 adults under acute stress, 400 mg/day soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex blunted ACTH/cortisol and anxiety responses versus placebo.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Age-related cognitive decline — Memory decline in the aged: treatment with lecithin and physostigmine1982
In normal aged subjects, 5 weeks of lecithin then placebo in a crossover study did not improve memory or learning; physostigmine infusion also did not help.
SupplementDEX Database · Bipolar disorder
1 reference3.SupplementDEX Database: Bipolar disorder — Lecithin in the treatment of mania: double-blind, placebo-controlled trials1982
In six manic patients in double-blind trials, lecithin produced significantly greater improvement than placebo in five of six patients.
SupplementDEX Database · Hyperlipidemia
4 references4.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — Influence of soy lecithin administration on hypercholesterolemia2009
In 30 hypercholesterolemic patients, 500 mg/day soy lecithin for 1–2 months reduced total cholesterol and LDL versus baseline.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — Effect of soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women2007
In 25 healthy postmenopausal women, 4 weeks of soy lecithin 20 g/day did not improve brachial artery flow-mediated dilation versus placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — Lecithin has no effect on serum lipoprotein, plasma fibrinogen and macro molecular protein complex levels in hyperlipidaemic men in a double-blind controlled study1998
In 20 hyperlipidemic men, 20 g/day soy lecithin in yoghurt for 4 weeks did not change serum lipoproteins, fibrinogen, or macro molecular protein complexes versus control.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — Treatment of hypercholesterolaemia with oral lecithin1977
In 10 subjects including 7 hypercholesterolemic patients, oral lecithin 20–30 g/day lowered plasma cholesterol 10–18% in about one-third of participants.
SupplementDEX Database · Parkinson's disease
1 reference8.SupplementDEX Database: Parkinson's disease — Lecithin treatment of cognitively impaired Parkinson's patients1982
In 16 cognitively impaired Parkinson's outpatients, ~32 g/day lecithin for 9 weeks showed no marked clinical improvement but slight gains on some memory and cognition tests versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Tardive dyskinesia
2 references9.SupplementDEX Database: Tardive dyskinesia — A crossover study of lecithin treatment of tardive dyskinesia1990
In 21 tardive dyskinesia patients, lecithin 20 g/day for 8 weeks had negligible clinical benefit versus placebo in a crossover trial.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Tardive dyskinesia — Lithium and lecithin in tardive dyskinesia: an update1986
In 18 psychiatric inpatients with tardive dyskinesia, lithium plus lecithin did not improve TD beyond lithium alone over 5 weeks.
SupplementDEX Database · Ulcerative colitis
2 references11.SupplementDEX Database: Ulcerative colitis — Profermin is efficacious in patients with active ulcerative colitis--a randomized controlled trial2013
In 74 mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis patients, 8 weeks of Profermin (fermented oats with lecithin and L. plantarum) reduced SCCAI more than nutritional supplement Fresubin versus baseline.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Ulcerative colitis — Safety and efficacy of Profermin® to induce remission in ulcerative colitis2012
In 39 active ulcerative colitis patients, open-label Profermin twice daily for 24 weeks induced remission or ≥50% SCCAI reduction in 62% versus baseline.