A double-blind, placebo controlled trial of high-dose lecithin in Alzheimer's disease.
The first long-term double-blind placebo controlled trial of high dose lecithin in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type is reported. Fifty one subjects were given 20-25 g/day of purified soya lecithin (containing 90% phosphatidyl plus lysophosphatidyl choline) for six months and followed up for at least a further six months. Plasma choline levels were monitored throughout the treatment period. There were no differences between the placebo group and the lecithin group but there was an improvement in a subgroup of relatively poor compliers. These were older and had intermediate levels of plasma choline. It is suggested that the effects of lecithin are complex but that there may be a "therapeutic window" for the effects of lecithin in the condition and that this may be more evident in older patients.
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002794:Choline / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D002794:Choline