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 clofibrate. 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.
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D002994:Clofibrate