Oral synthetic phospholipid (DMPC) raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, improves high-density lipoprotein function, and markedly reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null mice.
BACKGROUND
Lecithin has been widely sold as a dietary supplement. 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) is a phospholipid that does not exist in nature and has been used in vitro to study lipid binding. We tested DMPC in vivo in apolipoprotein (apo) E-null mice.


RESULTS
DMPC or soy or egg lecithin at 1.0 mg/mL was added to the drinking water of 4-week-old apoE-null female mice. Eight weeks later, HDL cholesterol levels and apoA-I levels were markedly increased in the mice that received DMPC. HDL function was also dramatically improved in the mice receiving DMPC, and there was a significant reduction in aortic lesions (P=0.021) in the DMPC mice but not in those receiving lecithin. Adding 1.0 mg/mL of DMPC to the drinking water of 10-month-old apoE-null female mice for 5 weeks caused regression of aortic sinus lesions (P=0.003). Adding 1.0 mg/mL DMPC to the drinking water of 6-month-old apoE-null male mice for 8 weeks significantly reduced aortic sinus lesion area (P=0.0031) and en face whole aorta lesion area (P=0.001), whereas adding the same concentrations of soy or egg lecithin did not significantly alter lesion area. Jejunal apoA-I synthesis and plasma apoA-I levels were increased 2- to 3-fold in mice receiving DMPC but not soy or egg lecithin.


CONCLUSIONS
DMPC (but not lecithin) raises HDL cholesterol and apoA-I, improves HDL function, and prevents lesions or causes their regression in apoE-null mice.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002633:Chemotaxis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine