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Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia with Oral Lecithin *
Author(s) -
Simons L. A.,
Hickie J. B.,
Buys Jan
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1977.tb03683.x
Subject(s) - lecithin , medicine , clofibrate , cholesterol , endocrinology , oral administration , ldl cholesterol , oral dose , chemistry , biochemistry
Summary: Treatment of hypercholesterolaemia with oral lecithin. An open clinical trial was performed to evaluate the plasma cholesterol‐lowering potential of oral lecithin in large doses (20–30 g/day), with or without supplementary blofibrate. Three healthy subjects and seven patients with hypercholesterolaemia were studied over periods ranging from eight weeks to 11 months. In one‐third of healthy subjects and in 3/7 patients, lecithin therapy led to a significant fall in plasma cholesterol concentration (10–18% fall). Combination of lecithin and clofibrate in two of the patients led to still lower plasma cholesterol levels (21 and 22% fall). Most of the change in plasma cholesterol concentration, when it occurred, was due to a reduction in beta lipoproteins. Evidence is presented that oral lecithin may reduce plasma cholesterol levels by acting as a source of linoleic acid.