<<snip>>
Lots of phosphates in lecithin
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http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=629544

What Is It?

Lecithin is a fatty substance manufactured in the body and widely
found in many animal- and plant-based foods, including eggs, liver,
peanuts, soybeans, and wheat germ. Lecithin is often used as an
additive in such processed foods as ice cream, margarine, and salad
dressings, because it helps blend (or emulsify) fats with water.
Lecithin is also available in supplement form.

Lecithin is considered an excellent source of choline, one of the B
vitamins. Once in the body, a key component of lecithin--
phosphatidylcholine--breaks down into choline. Now available in
dietary supplement form, phosphatidylcholine (PC) might be thought of
as a purified extract of lecithin. It is commonly recommended for
treating liver, nerve, and a variety of other conditions, including
multiple sclerosis and memory loss.

Although dietary lecithin is the primary source of choline, this
nutrient is also available through food; it appears in high
concentrations in liver, egg yolks, peanuts, cauliflower, soybeans,
grape juice, and cabbage. Choline is also present in concentrated form
in various B-complex vitamins.

Most North Americans get enough lecithin and choline in their daily
diets, and deficiencies are rare. That's fortunate because every cell
in the human body needs these nutrients to function properly.

Health Benefits

Lecithin and choline help form cell membranes and transport fats and
nutrients into and out of cells. They are also involved in human
reproduction and fetal and infant development. In fact, choline must
be included in all FDA-approved infant formulas.

These nutrients also play a vital role in keeping the nervous system
healthy.

Specifically, phosphatidylcholine, and in some cases lecithin or
choline alone, may help to:

Treat memory loss or impairment. Many nutritionally oriented doctors
consider phosphatidylcholine a valuable nerve-building nutrient that
might be able to help slow or reverse memory loss. As a phospholipid--
a fat-soluble substance--this nutrient serves as a major structural
component of brain cells.

Perhaps even more important, phosphatidylcholine plays a key role in
supplying sufficient choline to the brain, where it's used to
manufacture the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Levels of
acetylcholine are known to dwindle with age and this decline is
associated with age-related memory impairment.

In one study involving rats, mothers given extra choline produced
offspring with memory and learning skills superior to the offspring of
those rats on a regular diet. And the offspring of mothers whose diet
was deficient in choline performed poorly on memory tests. There have
been no human trials to test phosphatidylcholine's effectiveness for
memory or nerve problems in humans, however.

Protect the liver from alcohol abuse and hepatitis.
Phosphatidylcholine is believed to speed the flow of fats and
cholesterol through the liver, prevent the buildup of fats within the
liver, and assist the liver in eliminating dangerous toxins from the
body.

A 10-year study of baboons found that lecithin prevents two serious
side effects of alcohol abuse: severe liver scarring and cirrhosis.
Other research suggests that it may also be suitable for liver
problems caused by hepatitis. There are no human studies so far,
however.

Choline is frequently found in combination with such liver-
strengthening ingredients as the B vitamin inositol, the amino acid
methionine, and the herbs dandelion and milk thistle in preparations
called lipotropic combinations.

Prevent gallstones. Low levels of lecithin, an important constituent
of the fat-digesting substance known as bile, may promote gallstones.
That's why taking lecithin supplements (or its purified extract,
phosphatidylcholine) may help to avert often painful gallstones.

Recommended Intake

There are no RDAs for these nutrients, but scientists have established
an Adequate Intake for choline: 550 mg a day for men and 425 mg for
women.

If You Get Too Little

Lecithin and choline deficiencies are rare.

If You Get Too Much

High doses of lecithin and choline can produce such side effects as
sweating, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Extremely large
doses of choline (10 grams a day) can cause a fishy body odor or a
heart-rhythm abnormality.

General Dosage Information

Most Americans get enough of these nutrients in their daily diet--
about 6 grams of lecithin and up to 1 gram of choline.

Guidelines for Use
Although both lecithin and choline are available as individual
supplements, the most effective way to elevate choline levels in the
body is to take phosphatidylcholine. (Another reason not to take
individual choline supplements is that large amounts have been known
to produce a fishlike smell in the user.)
To enhance absorption, take phosphatidylcholine with meals.
Consider sprinkling granular lecithin over foods or adding it to
drinks. It has a nutty flavor.

General Interaction

There are no known drug or nutrient interactions associated with
lecithin, choline, or phosphatidylcholine taken in commonly
recommended dosages.

Cautions
Because individual phosphatidylcholine, lecithin, or choline
supplements can increase levels of acetylcholine, they should not be
used by individuals who are suffering from bipolar disorder. High
levels of acetylcholine can worsen the "depressive" phase of this
condition.
Consult your doctor before taking phosphatidylcholine if you suffer
from depression; it may worsen your condition.
__________________
MET-Rx Board Rep

*Disclaimer: My thoughts and opinions do not reflect MET-Rx as a
company. I am not employed by them, I am simply here to answer
questions regarding their products.*

Who loves ya.
Tom

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