Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of your heart’s aortic valve. This often keeps the valve from working properly, reducing blood flow not only in your heart but also through your body. As with any condition that inhibits the flow of blood, stenosis causes the heart to work much harder than normal and can eventually weaken its muscle, which may lead to arrhythmia, heart failure and cardiac arrest. Although aortic stenosis is most commonly associated with rheumatic fever, other conditions can increase the risk of its development. Coronary artery disease is just one of them. Preliminary evidence suggests that soy lecithin may help prevent cardiovascular diseases, which includes coronary artery disease. Like any dietary supplement, talk to your doctor before taking soy lecithin for any reason.
Choline
Soy lecithin is relatively high in choline, explains Tara Gidus, a registered dietitian and former spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Choline is oxidized in the body to form betaine — a chemical compound necessary to metabolize homocysteine. As betaine levels rise, you often experience a decrease in plasma homocysteine concentrations. Since moderately elevated levels of homocysteine tend to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, soy lecithin could potentially be of benefit.
Evidence
A study published in the July 2005 “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” supports this theory. Participants were given choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid found in soy lecithin. After just two weeks of taking 2.6 grams of choline a day, plasma homocysteine levels were reduced by 18 percent, suggesting a potential benefit in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study, however, was relatively small, so further research is needed to determine if the same results can be expected in a larger population of people.
Stenosis
While soy lecithin — or the compounds found in this byproduct of soybean oil — may be of benefit in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, studies have not focused on its direct effect in preventing aortic stenosis. In fact, aortic valve stenosis isn’t usually considered a preventable condition. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to reduce your risk, but the condition is more often associated with age, valve deformities and rheumatic fever. Dietary habits do not have as much of an impact on its development.
Warning
Taking an excess of choline, particularly greater than 3.5 grams a day, can do more harm than good. High doses have been linked to low blood pressure, which may lead to dizziness, lightheadedness and loss of consciousness, among other potential complications. Talk to your doctor before taking soy lecithin, choline or any other dietary supplement to prevent or treat aortic stenosis.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Medline Plus: Aortic Stenosis
- Chow: Is Soy Lecithin Bad for You?
- Linus Pauling Institute: Choline
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Choline Supplemented as Phosphatidylcholine Decreases Fasting and Postmethionine-loading Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Healthy Men
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