title: Gastric bezoar caused by lecithin: an unusual complication of health faddism.
abstract: We discovered an unusual bezoar in a previously healthy man who had been ingesting large amounts of a vegetable-derived oil touted to contain lecithin, which he purchased from health food stores in the belief that it had beneficial effects in lowering cholesterol levels and improving memory. The large intragastric mass, composed of fatty acids and lecithin, led to considerable morbidity, including abdominal pain, early satiety, and significant weight loss, and required surgical removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mindulzun
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Knauer
mesh_terms: D001630:Bezoars / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013272:Stomach Diseases
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines