Health Benefits Of Soy Lecithin

Lecithin is a compound in the cells of all living organisms made of a combination of several phospholipids. Lecithin is essential for cells to function properly. Commercially, lecithin is often derived from soybean oil and used as a stabilizing agent and fat emulsifier in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Soy lecithin is also readily available as a health supplement and it is believed to offer several health benefits.

Soy Lecithin and Memory

Soy lecithin is an excellent source of choline, an essential nutrient that is a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine aids in memory function, and Oregon State Univerity's Linus Pauling Institute cites a deficiency of this neurotransmitter as a potential cause of Alzheimer's disease and elderly dementia. Researchers from the Geriatric Institute for Education and Research, and the Department of Geriatrics at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot, Israel conducted a small double-blind study in which they gave 72 patients between the ages of 60 and 80 either a placebo or 300 mg of soy lecithin daily for three months. At the end of this study, researchers found a "large and statistically significant positive influence of treatment on both memory and mood" in patients who received the soy lecithin versus those who received the placebo. While this study was too small in scope to be completely conclusive, it strongly suggests soy lecithin may aid in improving memory function.

Soy Lecithin and Cholesterol

Lecithin is essential to healthy cell functioning; one of lecithin's functions is to aid in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol. Clinical studies such as the "Influence of Soy Lecithin Administration on Hypercholesterolemia" by Brazilian researchers Amouni Mohamed Mourad, et. al., indicate taking soy lecithin supplements may positively affect cholesterol levels in patients. In this study, published in the 2010 edition of the journal Cholesterol, the researchers saw 40.66 percent and 42 percent reductions of overall cholesterol in two respective subject groups after patients were treated with a 500-mg daily dose of soy lecithin for one- and two-month trial periods.

Soy Lecithin and Gallstones

According to Huntington College of Health Sciences, research indicates gallstone formation may be linked to reduced levels of lecithin. Lecithin is an important component of bile, the digestive substance produced by the gallbladder to help in the digestion of fats. Lecithin is also known to aid in protecting the body from bile salts. Scientists do not yet understand exactly how lecithin levels and gallstone formation are specifically linked, but many alternative medicine and herbal practitioners still believe that current research findings are strong enough to indicate supplementing with soy lecithin may prevent gallstones from forming.