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What is lecithin and how it is obtained
Lecithin supplements consist of a mixture of various substances, mainly obtained from soybeans and intended for individuals with lipid metabolism disorders (high cholesterol).
More info: Lecithin in cosmetics
Lecithin and cholesterol (biochemical analysis)
In our organism, lecithin is part of the structure of cell membranes, of which it represents the main constituent. It is also used in the liver for the synthesis of an enzyme called Lecithin Cholesterol Acyl Transferase (LCAT), capable, as the name implies, of esterifying cholesterol according to the following reaction:
The LCAT takes the polyunsaturated fatty acid present in position 2 of the lecithin and transfers it to the cholesterol, esterifying it. This reaction is very important since it favors the distribution of cholesterol to the various tissues.
Lecithin Cholesterol Acyl Transferase facilitates the incorporation into HDL of excess cholesterol present in peripheral tissues. In turn, HDLs can exchange their lipid load with other lipoproteins or directly convey cholesterol to the liver. as "reverse transport of cholesterol", it is particularly important since only in the liver can excess cholesterol be removed from the body through the bile which, when poured into the intestine, is partly reabsorbed and partly eliminated with the faeces.
The action of lecithin is therefore good-naturedly comparable to a broom, able to clean the vessels of the fats that are deposited there and thus play an important preventive role against atherosclerosis.
Lecithin is also part of the composition of bile itself and, together with bile salts, helps to solubilize cholesterol, preventing this from precipitating in the form of microcrystals; therefore it has a "preventive action on the formation of gall bladder stones.
Health effects and properties of lecithin
Thanks to its biochemical characteristics, lecithin is an excellent regulator of blood cholesterol. For this reason it is among the food supplements most commonly prescribed by doctors when dietary and behavioral measures are not sufficient (increased physical activity). Its cholesterol-lowering efficacy seems to be even superior to linoleic acid (omega 6) based supplements. unlike which it lowers total cholesterol while keeping the levels of the good one almost unchanged.
Lecithin is mainly obtained from legumes, such as soy, or from egg yolk.
different foods (mg / 100g)
Moreover, it must be said that the intake of lecithin in the diet has significantly reduced in recent years, in the face of an increasingly poor diet in vegetables and whole foods.
Soy lecithin is also rich in tocopherol (vitamin E) and therefore has antioxidant properties, particularly useful in the health (anti-aging and anticancer) and industrial fields (it increases the preservation of lipid-rich products).
Lecithin is often combined with vitamins (E, B6) and minerals (selenium) to increase its therapeutic and restorative properties. For the doses of intake, as there is a certain variability between the various products, it is good to rely on the advice given on the label. Generally it is recommended to take two or three teaspoons (10 grams) of lecithin per day, in pure form or added to various foods (yogurt, milk and soups when cooked).
The use of lecithin is also recommended in case of mental fatigue, since, being a donor of choline (a substance essential for nervous function), it improves intellectual efficiency and mnemonic abilities.
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