What is Phosphatidylcholine?

Posted on June 6, 2011 | 1 comment

Phosphatidylcholine is an integral component of every cell in the human body. Consumed regulalry as part of our normal diets, Phosphatidylcholine has also been proven safe and effective over decades of study as a theraputic agent.

Researched extensively by scientists, Phosphatidylcholine has been shown to play a vital role in many important areas including maintaining cell structure, fat metabolism, memory, nerve signalling, as a precursor to important neurotransmitters, and liver health.

You can see why Phosphatidylcholine is often refered to as the “Miracle Molecule” and its importance and exciting promises in anti-aging continue to be explored.

The Basics

Phosphatidylcholine Cell MembraneOf the thousands of molecules that make up a living cell, Phosphatidylcholine has been studied as one of the most fundamental and important. A vital component of the cell membrane, it is the most abundant in a class of phospholipids known as “essential phospholipids”, as it forms the structural skin that surrounds the cell.

To read a more extensive review on Phosphatidylcholine
Click Here for more Information on Phosphatidylcholine.

Phosphatidylcholine Benefits

  • Improve Memory
  • Intestinal Health
  • Neuropsychiatric Disorders
  • Skin Health
  • Fat Metabolism
  • Liver Health
  • Weight Loss

Click Here to read more about the Benefits of Phosphatidylcholine

The role of Phosphatidylcholine in Aging

Phosphatidylcholine levels in the cell decrease as we age. Found in very high concentrations when we are born, particulary in brain tissue, a normal part of aging process is these levels decline over time. By supplementing with Phosphatidylcholine in addition to what we get from our regular diet, we can increase the levels in our cells and halt or even reverse the age-related decline.

Many studies have found Phosphatidylcholine supplements can improve learning, aid memory, help promote healthy skin elasticity, and even support optimal liver function.

Click Here to read more about Phosphatidylcholine & Aging

Phosphatidylcholine Side Effects and Safety

Phosphatidylcholine has shown to be remarkably safe in many scientific studies. Most side effects are mild, and transitory in nature.

Phosphatidylcholine Safety Check:

  • Naturally occurring in foods we eat
  • Decades of scientific study proving its safety
  • Approved as safe to consume in over the counter supplements

Click Here to read more about the Side Effects of Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine Supplements

All Phosphatidylcholine Supplements are not created equal. The density of Phosphatidylcholine in some Lecithin Supplements for example varies widely.

Click Here to read more about Phosphatidylcholine Supplements

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A Guide to Supplementing with Phosphatidylcholine

Posted on September 6, 2014 | 1 comment

Jarrow FormulasHave you heard about the newly popular smart drug – Phosphatidylcholine? This brain booster could improve memory and learning ability and even help prevent the loss of mental acuity that often accompanies aging.

Phosphatidylcholine is found in all your body’s cell membranes. It’s a component of lecithin, which is in eggs, soya, nuts and red meat. When you eat these foods, your body breaks down Phosphatidylcholine to obtain choline, an essential nutrient. It then uses choline to create acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that’s important for learning, memory and other important bodily functions.

Many of the medical uses for Phosphatidylcholine centre on the role it plays in breaking down fats. It’s used to treat high cholesterol. Research shows that Phosphatidylcholine can help prevent liver damage. It’s given to patients with hepatitis. Sometimes, Phosphatidylcholine injections are used to break up globules of fat in the blood or fat deposits that clog the arteries. Cosmetically, injections of Phosphatidylcholine are used to break up fat deposits underneath the skin, particularly underneath the eyelids.

Phosphatidylcholine and the Brain

HepatoproPhosphatidylcholine could be most promising as a cognitive enhancer. It’s well known that choline, which is derived from Phosphatidylcholine, is essential for good cognitive performance. Studies on rats show that exposure to choline in the womb can improve memory and help prevent age-related memory loss. Choline supplementation after birth can prevent cognitive issues caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.

Women who take choline supplements during pregnancy reduce their risk of having children who develop schizophrenia.

A study of almost 1400 people showed that people with diets high in choline perform better on verbal and visual memory tests and that people with low levels of choline in their diets have higher levels of brain atrophy.

Research shows that supplementing with Phosphatidylcholine on its own has a positive effect on brain function. A study performed in 1995 showed that Phosphatidylcholine improved memory in mice with dementia. A 2001 study, which also used mice, showed that a combination of Phosphatidylcholine and Vitamin B12 supplements could prevent age-related cognitive decline.

Why Take Supplements?

ZOI ResearchAlthough you can get Phosphatidylcholine from your diet, the levels that were shown to prevent memory loss in experiments were much higher than most people get from foods. Getting enough Phosphatidylcholine can be especially difficult if you’re trying to cut down on eggs and red meat to lower your saturated fat intake.

Many people find that a healthy and effective dose is 400 milligrams, taken from one to three times a day.

Side effects of Phosphatidylcholine include stomach upset, diarrhoea and excessive sweating. People who receive Phosphatidylcholine injections can experience more serious side effects.
ZOI ResearchThorne Research

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Phosphatidylcholine Prevents Aging! And Other Secret Uses

Posted on December 9, 2011 | 1 comment

Want to keep your youthful looks? Or would you rather reduce your cholesterol level and risk of heart disease? How about relieving PMS or improving your memory? Or maybe you’re worried about your liver’s health. Would you believe that just one nutritional supplement could do all of these things — and more? Believe it or not, Phosphatidylcholine, a natural substance that we already obtain through a healthy diet, can also be used as a supplement to promote health and healing throughout the entire body.

What is Phosphatidylcholine?

It’s a naturally occurring chemical which is needed throughout the human body and is gained through the diet. It’s actually one of the most critical substances in the body. Phosphatidylcholine and its successor, choline, are used in several ways:
• Transport fats for proper metabolism
• Synthesize acetylcholine for use in the brain
• Build cell membranes
• Reduce cholesterol’s ability to form deposits

How Can Phosphatidylcholine Help Me?

Taken as a nutritional supplement, this ubiquitous substance can help you maintain or regain difference aspects of your health. Bear in mind that research studies are currently being done to quantify the effectiveness of this supplement; some of these effects have been conclusively proven, while for others, the research is just starting to trickle in.

• Anti-aging
As we grow older, the amount of phosphatidylcholine in our cells tends to decrease. By making up for this loss through diet, we can boost the cellular levels and slow down or even reverse this decline. Supplementation can help improve learning and memory, increase healthy skin elasticity, and promote optimal liver function.

• Reduce cholesterol and risk of heart disease
Phosphatidylcholine helps cholesterol to dissolve more easily; this makes it harder for cholesterol to build up in arteries, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. This supplement also helps to lower cholesterol levels and remove cholesterol from tissues throughout the body.

• Relieve PMS symptoms
Studies indicate that phosphatidylcholine and other similar substances are effective in treating symptoms of PMS and painful menses.

• Improve memory
Taking extra phosphatidylcholine promotes generation of more acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which is essential for memory retention in the brain. The more acetylcholine available, the more effective and efficient your memory will be. In fact, phosphatidylcholine has even been implicated as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

• Treat and prevent liver damage/disorders
Numerous studies have shown that phosphatidylcholine effectively helps to reduce liver fibrosis, prevent cell death from drugs and alcohol, and protect cells from damage caused by viruses. Supplementation is widely used in Europe to treat disorders such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis, and toxic liver damage.

Sources:
http://www.woodmed.com/Phos%20Choline.htm
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-501-PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=501&activeIngredientName=PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

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Inside Phosphatidylcholine: What are Fatty Acids?

Posted on August 11, 2011 | 2 comments

What are fatty acids?

Fatty acids are organic molecules made up of three elements, namely oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. These three elements are assembled as a carbon chain, with a carboxyl group at one end. They consist of carbon molecules and a group of carboxylic acids called the COOH group.

Simply put, they are components of important lipids like phospholipids and triglycerides. Phospholipids, which can be found in all plants and animals, are compounds that are vital structural components of cell membranes. One of the most common examples of phospholipids is Lecithin, also known as Phosphatidylcholine, a significant component of nervous system tissues like the brain. Triglycerides are the main form of fat in the diet. They can be found in animal fats, vegetable oils, and can even be produced within the body. The term triglycerides are commonly linked relative to blood lipids, since high levels of serum triglyceride lead to cardiovascular risks.

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are the main types of fatty acids. To identify the difference between them, one must identify its chemical bonds.

The Importance and Sources of Fatty Acids

So why are fatty acids important? Well firstly, aside from their function in all sorts of cellular activities, they can be burned by the body and converted to energy. They also have important effects on a variety of cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurological, and visual processes. Some of the negative effects of a deficiency in fatty acids are slow development, a reduction in learning ability, and hormonal imbalance.

Omega-6 and Omega-3 are two forms of fatty acids. Vegetable oils are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids while Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in oily fish. The healthiest option would be those that are fresh, cold-pressed, and unrefined. Safflower, grape seed, sunflower, flax/linseed, and walnut are among the richest sources of Omega-6 (with a percentage of approximately 78%, 73, 58%, 54%, and 51% respectively). Other sources are olives, almonds, Brazil nuts, pecan nuts, and pine nuts.

Omega-3 fatty acids are mostly found in larges oily fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon, and herring. Small pelagic fish like pilchards and sardines are also rich in omega-3. Recently, krill oil supplements have been introduced as an alternative to the usual salmon and cod liver oil supplements.

Lecithin, which is the primary dietary source of Phosphatidylcholine, is abundant in foods like beef liver, soy beans, and even egg. Be sure to eat a diet rich in healthy fatty acids, and as always balance is important.

Lecithin, which is the primary dietary source of Phosphatidylcholine, is abundant in foods like beef liver, soy beans, and even egg. Be sure to eat a diet rich in healthy fatty acids, and as always balance is important.

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How to Pronounce Phosphatidylcholine (and Common Misspellings)

Posted on July 4, 2011 | 1 comment

Phosphatidylcholine: It sure is a hard word to get your tongue around!

Defined and Pro-nun-c-ia-tion by dictionary.com as:

phosphatidylcholine phos·pha·ti·dyl·cho·line (fŏs’fə-tīd’l-kō’lēn’)
n.
A phospholipid that is a major component of cellular membranesand functions in the transport
of lipoproteins in tissues.

 

Click Here to listen to Phosphatidylcholine be pronounced (needs sound!)

Here also is a Video of the well known inventor Ray Kurzweil talking about Phosphatidylcholine for another take on the pronunciation.

Common Misspellings of Phosphatidylcholine

These are various misspellings used by people when visiting this website after searching in Google for Phosphatidylcholine:

phosphatidyl choline (with a space)
phosphotillocolene
phosphotidylcholine
phosphatidylcholin
phosphotidyl choline
phocphatidylcholine
phospdatidyl choline
phosphadytyl choline
phosphatadylcholine
phosphateal choline
phosphatidinilcholine
phosphatidalcholine
phosphatidlycholine
phosphatidyl-choline
phosphatidylchoine
phosphlytidyal choline
phosphodiayl choline
phosphoditalcholine
phosphoititilcolin
phosphotidylcoline
phosphotillacolin
phosphotodylcholine
phosphtidylcholine
phosphtitlecoline
phosphytal choline
phospytalcholine

The list will keep updating as time goes on. Quite humorous are the multitude of ways we can spell Phosphatidylcholine to make it sound more like  phos-fat-idle-colin. But perhaps more telling is the indication of how reliant we are on Google now as our spell checker to the World/Internet…

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Ray Kurzweil on Phosphatidylcholine

Posted on May 17, 2011 | 4 comments

Inventor, Author, and Futurist Raw Kurzweil on bigthink.com talks about how important Phosphatidylcholine is in its role in aging.

“Phosphatidylcholine addresses all by itself a major aging process. This is because that substances depletes from your cell membrane, and thats why the skin in an eldery person loses its suppleness and your organs don’t work very well.”

The video covers his “Top 3 Supplements” which alongside Phosphatidylcholine he also includes Vitamin D, and Coenzyme Q10 to address the many factors involved in the aging process. He recommends using these supplements (alongside others) in an effort to slow down or even reverse these aging processes.

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Welcome to Phosphatidylcholine Dot Org

Posted on May 14, 2011 | 2 comments

Welcome to Phosphatidylcholine Dot Org

We will be providing information about the wonderful phospholipid Phosphatidylcholine, one of the major components of biological cell membranes which is slowly depleted with age. Learn why many in the health community are supplementing with this readily available nutrient to ensure healthy and disease free aging.

 

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