Phosphatidylcholine & Obesity

Obesity is the condition of having excessive amounts of body fat. One of the ways to determine obesity is to measure your body mass index, or BMI, MayoClinic.com says. People who are obese have a BMI of 30 and above. Obesity is generally the result of consuming more calories than your body burns in the course of exercise and daily activities. Obesity elevates your risk of developing stroke, heart disease and gallbladder disease. Phosphatidylcholine, or highly purified lecithin, purportedly helps to reduce obesity and manage your weight, Drugs.com notes.

Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine helps your body maintain normal levels of choline, Drugs.com explains. Choline is vital in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine has not been associated with any serious side effects. However, phosphatidylcholine has been known to cause stomach upset and nausea. People who want to increase their choline levels by 50 percent usually take about 3 g of phosphatidylcholine before each meal by noon. However, adverse reactions are less likely when the supplement is taken with meals or after meals.

Phosphatidylcholine and Fatty Acid Synthesis

The "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" published a study in its 2007 issue that examined the relationship between phosphatidylcholine, omega-3 phosphatidylcholine and obesity. The study involved the use of rat test subjects. The rats were fed diets that contained either 5 percent corn oil and 2 percent egg phosphatidylcholine, or 5 percent corn oil and 2 percent omega-3 phosphatidylcholine for four weeks. The results revealed that omega-3 phosphatidylcholine reduced blood sugar levels and fat tissue. This suggests that omega-3 phosphatidylcholine may prevent obesity-related disorders via the suppression of fatty acid synthesis and increasing adiponectin levels. Adiponectin is a protein produced exclusively in fat cells that aids in the regulation of lipids and glucose. Obese patients tend to have low adiponectin levels.

Lecithin and Obesity

A study included in a 2009 issues of the "International Journal of Molecular Medicine" examined the role of lecithin in obesity. The study aimed to validate lecithin's purported ability to increase your body's ability to burn fat. The study discovered that lecithin actually caused triglycerides and free fatty acid levels to increase in fat cells. The results suggest that lecithin may not prevent obesity after all. Because phosphatidylcholine is a refined form of lecithin, the results of the study beg the question of whether the same holds true for phosphatidylcholine. More research is necessary to validate the findings of this study.

Phosphatidylcholine and Submental Fat

The "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology" included a study in a 2007 issue that examined the effect of phosphatidylcholine on fatty tissue under your jaw. The study used 12 patients who had fat deposits under the jaw. The participants underwent between one and five treatment sessions every two weeks. They received injections of either pure phosphatidylcholine or a mix of phosphatidylcholine and silicium. The results showed that both groups had reduced fat deposits below their jaw areas.

Phosphatidylcholine & Obesity