Lecithin

Lecithin/Drug Interactions:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In humans, lecithin has been shown to increase platelet adhesion (8).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: Based on several clinical studies, lecithin may improve the lipid profile by reducing LDL cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio and increasing HDL cholesterol (21; 23; 24; 22; 33). Theoretically, concurrent use of lecithin and antilipemic agents may cause added cholesterol-lowering effects.
  • Cholinesterase inhibitorsCholinesterase inhibitors: The effect of lecithin with cholinesterase inhibitors remains equivocal. The combination of physostigmine and lecithin enhanced cognitive functions in Alzheimer's patients (34; 15). However, several studies did not find an effect of physostigmine, whether or not administered with lecithin (31; 35; 36). In a few clinical studies, lecithin had an added beneficial effect in Alzheimer's patients when used with tacrine (13; 37); however, the majority of studies have found no effect with tacrine and lecithin (14; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44).
  • DiclofenacDiclofenac: Lecithin has been studied in combination with topical diclofenac for local treatment of sprains and strains; lecithin appears to facilitate absorption of diclofenac (45; 46; 47).
  • Ergot derivativesErgot derivatives: The combination of lecithin and ergoloid mesylates had no effect on cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients (48).
  • Heavy metal antagonists/chelating agentsHeavy metal antagonists/chelating agents: No interactions between the trivalent chelating agent desferrioxamine and lecithin were reported in a clinical trial on patients with Alzheimer's disease (49).
  • LithiumLithium: The addition of lecithin as comedication to lithium had no effect on tardive dyskinesia (29).
  • Nootropic agentsNootropic agents: The effects of lecithin with nootropic agents (or memory enhancers) remain unclear. Lecithin coadministered with piracetam had a beneficial effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease in one study (16) and no effect in another (30).

    • Lecithin/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Acetyl-L-carnitineAcetyl-L-carnitine: As lecithin, carnitine, and glucose all influence acetylcholine metabolism, the possibility of synergistic interactions was investigated with a battery of cognitive tests. Reaction times were more rapid when carnitine and a glucose drink were taken together. Neither mood nor the ability to sustain attention were influenced by these procedures (50).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In humans, lecithin has been shown to increase platelet adhesion (8).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: Based on several clinical studies, lecithin may improve the lipid profile by reducing LDL cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio and increasing HDL cholesterol (21; 23; 24; 22; 33). Theoretically, concurrent use of lecithin and antilipemic agents may cause added cholesterol-lowering effects.
  • CholineCholine: Choline is a component of lecithin. Human and animal studies show that lecithin increased plasma free choline levels (17; 51; 52; 30; 53; 11; 54).
  • Nootropic agentsNootropic agents: The effects of lecithin with nootropic agents (or memory enhancers) remain unclear. Lecithin coadministered with piracetam had a beneficial effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease in one study (16) and no effect in another (30).
  • PhosphatidylserinePhosphatidylserine: A complex of lecithin and phosphatidylserine resulted in significant changes in pituitary adrenal activity (27).
  • SitostanolSitostanol: In human study, sitostanol reduced cholesterol absorption but only if formulated with lecithin (24). The solubility of sitostanol in artificial bile was greatly increased by including lecithin (24).

    • Lecithin/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Lecithin/Lab Interactions:

  • ACTH levelsACTH levels: Treatment with 400mg of PAS resulted in a pronounced blunting of both serum ACTH and cortisol (27).
  • Choline levelsCholine levels: Lecithin increased plasma free choline levels (17; 51; 52; 30; 53; 11; 54).
  • Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: In humans, lecithin has been shown to increase platelet adhesion (8).
  • Cortisol levelsCortisol levels: Treatment with 400mg of PAS resulted in a pronounced blunting of both serum ACTH and cortisol (27).
  • EEGEEG: Lecithin had no effect on EEG activity (10; 42; 36).
  • HemoglobinHemoglobin: According to a randomized controlled trial, hemoglobin levels tended to decrease, and the decrease was significant but clinically irrelevant (55).
  • Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratioLecithin/sphingomyelin ratio: Lecithin as artificial surfactant may have an effect on the lecithin/sphingomyelin ration in preterm babies (56).
  • Lipid profileLipid profile: Based on several clinical studies, lecithin may improve the lipid profile by reducing LDL cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio and increasing HDL cholesterol (21; 23; 24; 22; 33).