Lecithin is in several foods and is required by your cells for normal functioning. Egg yolks are particularly high in lecithin, so they are often used to derive this compound. The main medicinal use of lecithin is for the treatment of neurological and brain disorders. Lecithin is also used in cooking as a emulsifier to combine oil-based and water-based ingredients. Despite its interaction with fat molecules, lecithin supplementation is not supported for the treatment of lipomas, benign fatty tumors.
Lipomas
A lipoma is a fatty bump between your skin and muscle tissue. Usually less than 2 inches in diameter, lipomas are only painful if they contain blood vessels or put pressure on local nerves. Lipomas are generally harmless and do not increase your risk for cancer. Certain disorders may predispose you to developing a lipoma, but the specific cause is unknown. It is important to have unusual lumps checked out by your doctor to determine if you have a lipoma or a more serious growth. A biopsy is the most effective way to identify a lipoma.
Lipoma Treatment
Most of the time, a lipoma does not require treatment. If you would like to remove it, surgery is the most effective option. Liposuction is sometimes used, but can be more difficult to successfully execute. Steroid injection directly into the lipoma can help reduce its size. Although recommended for general health, reducing excess body fat will not necessarily decrease your chance of developing a lipoma. Lipomas are more strongly correlated with other genetic factors than body fat percentage.
Lecithin and Fat Metabolism
Lecithin manufacturers claim that lecithin is able to break down adipose tissue and flush fat out of your body. Despite lecithin's emulsifying ability in baking, there is no strong evidence to support its ability to reduce accumulated body fat or the growth of lipomas. There is some controversy as to whether lecithin can affect cardiovascular disease risk by reducing the effects of cholesterol. In 1992, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that egg intake does not significantly affect lipoproteins, or fat levels in the blood. Even if lecithin affects serum fat in some people, it is very unlikely that lecithin has any effect on subcutaneous fat, or lipomas.
Practical Advice
If you suspect that you have a lipoma, have your doctor evaluate it to rule out a possible liposarcoma. Liposarcomas are similar fatty growths, except they are cancerous and require treatment. Do not take supplements without the supervision of your doctor or in place of medical care. Lecithin is very prevalent in the diet, and the only people who usually require supplementation are those taking niacin for cholesterol reduction. Lecithin-rich foods include beef, liver, peanuts and cauliflower. Whether or not additional supplementation will benefit you has yet to be determined.
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