Phosphatidylcholine – How Does this Supplement Work?

Phosphatidylcholine is a brain supplement that is receiving a lot of attention right now.

This supplement is reportedly able to slow down brain aging, increase neuroplasticity, and even boost brainpower and cognition.

As a source of essential fatty acids and choline, Phosphatidylcholine supplements provide many of the most important nutrients for neuron health and proper functioning of your memory, learning, reasoning and attention faculties.

While Phosphatidylcholine supplements are not the best Choline source for individuals who want to enhance their cognitive performance, they do offer a lot of benefits for people with Choline deficiencies.

What is Phosphatidylcholine, how is it thought to work and what are its potential benefits?

Phosphatidylcholine

Cholinergic Supplement

Memory

Brain Health

Cognition

How It Works:

• Increases acetylcholine levels in the brain
• Supports memory & cognition
• Promotes brain cell health

Dosage:

Between 400 - 1200 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Phosphatidylcholine Overview

Phosphatidylcholine is what is known as a hydrophobic lipid that is found in Lecithin granules. Lipid is simply another word for fat.

Phosphstidylcholine is made up of phosphates, fatty acids, and Choline. All of these substances actually have some pretty profound health effects on the brain and body.

The fatty acids are useful in fat metabolism and transportation of different nutrients. They play an important role in the maintenance of healthy neurons and can prevent or repair damage to brain cells.

Of course, the main reason people use Phosphatidylcholine supplements is as a source of Choline. Choline is a water-soluble vitamin-like essential nutrient that is similar to the B family of vitamins.

Choline has a tremendous number of effects on processes ranging from memory to cognition. It is known to be a precursor for one of the most critical excitatory neurotransmitters – Acetylcholine.

Phosphatidylcholine has been touted as supplement which can aid in a number of areas related to mind and body health and performance. This includes neurologists looking into its potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and the possibility of even using it to protect against cognitive decline in elderly individuals.

There is evidence suggesting that the supplement may be used to help stimulate the growth of new brain cells and neural connections.

The main method of action for Phosphatidylcholine is by working as a key building block of cell membranes. It is known to improve the fluidity of your neuronal membranes, thereby ensuring that they get more of the nutrients they need in and waste products out.

This also means that it helps to protect cells that line the digestive tract and liver as well as nerve cells. For these reasons, the supplement may be very helpful in lowering cholesterol and protecting the liver along with increasing the efficiency of nerve and neuronal cells within the brain.

Choline itself is known to break down fat in the liver and prevent a condition called fatty liver disease.

Research on Choline supplements is very promising, however more research, especially large-scale human trials, is still needed. At this time Phosphatidylcholine is available as a health supplement only, and it has not been approved by the FDA as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

Phosphatidylcholine Benefits

The three most prominent benefits of Phosphatidylcholine are related to memory improvements, fat metabolism, and liver health.

The supplement contains significant amounts of Choline which the body is capable of turning into Acetylcholine.

Unfortunately, 90% of the American population is considered to be deficient in this vital brain nutrient. You will find Choline in the yolks of eggs as well as certain meats, but most people require supplementation to get enough choline to meet the demands of their brain.

Low Choline levels are associated with memory loss, inability to focus, and less fluid intelligence.

Using a Choline supplement like Phosphatidylcholine can ensure you have enough of this nutrient to produce Acetylcholine at a sufficient rate. This brain chemical is thought to play vital roles in a number of cognitive process.

As the level of Acetylcholine circulating in the brain increases, this leads to enhanced memory formation as well as increased learning capacity and even an improved speed of memory retrieval. Not only this, but it also may even serve to improve attention span, concentration, and ability to focus.

In general, Phosphatidylcholine is considered to be one of the weaker Acetylcholine supplements available with CDP Choline (Citicoline) and Alpha GPC regarded as more potent sources. Even Choline Bitartrate has a higher concentration of choline in it.

However, Phosphatidylcholine is very affordable so many people will choose to buy it if they are on a budget.

Fat metabolism and transportation is also enhanced with this supplement. In fact, Phosphatidylcholine is a key component of cell membranes which are critical for the transportation of fats from one cell to another. This is also vital for maintaining intact cellular structures.

Choline also aids in the breakdown of fats in the body and phospholipids in general are essential ingredients in bile. Liver health is critical to overall health and Phosphatidylcholine helps to prevent a number of conditions including fatty liver disease. It also serves to guard against liver damage that may result from drugs and alcohol.

Phospholipids & Brain Health

We are continuing to learn more about the importance of Phosphatidylcholine in the maintenance of brain health. It is a fact that more than 50% of people over the age of 85 suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Elderly individuals who have not been diagnosed with this condition typically show some signs of memory loss and a slowdown in mental performance.

Researchers have determined that one possible explanation of this slowdown is the fact that neurons and other brain cells become worn out or damaged due to oxidation and other factors.

As a phospholipid, Phosphatidylcholine supplements are able to restore proper function to damaged brain cells. The cell membranes can be repaired and revived thanks to the high lipid content of the supplement.

As these membranes are restored this makes them more fluid and less rigid. Fats and other things are able to pass through the cell walls once again. This also makes it easier for nutrients, chemical messages and messengers (neuronal transmissions) to flow through, improving their overall efficiency.

More research needs to be done to determine the effects Phosphatidylcholine may have on age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Phosphatidylcholine Dosage & Side Effects

There is a wide range of recommended and acceptable doses of Phosphatidylcholine. Proper dosage depends on many factors, and it is always recommended that you speak with your doctor before beginning any new supplements.

Many users take between 400 mg to several grams each day. Of course, it is always smart to begin with the lowest effective dose (200 to 400 mg, most likely) and only adjust upwards as you become more familiar with the effects and benefits produced. This supplement can be taken all at once or even divided into several daily administrations.

Phosphatidylcholine supplements are an easy way to increase your choline intake and possibly increase Acetylcholine levels in the body, leading to improvements in memory and concentration.

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