Overview

Phosphatidylcholine is a chemical found naturally in all cells in the body. It is a source of the essential nutrient, choline. It's also found in foods.

Phosphatidylcholine is a major part of lecithin, which is a mixture of fats that are essential to cells in the human body. It's found in soy, sunflower, mustard, and eggs. The body makes a chemical called acetylcholine from phosphatidylcholine. Acetylcholine is important for memory.

People use phosphatidylcholine for inflammatory bowel disease. It is also used for acne, memory loss, Alzheimer disease, liver disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse phosphatidylcholine with Alpha-GPC, choline, lecithin, phosphatidylserine, or soy. These are related but not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

  • A type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). Taking phosphatidylcholine by mouth might improve symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis.
There is interest in using phosphatidylcholine for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Phosphatidylcholine is possibly safe when used in doses up to 30 grams daily for 6 weeks, or up to 6 grams daily for up to 2 years. It's generally well-tolerated. Side effects might include altered taste, bloating, diarrhea, itching, nausea, and sweating.

When applied to the skin: Phosphatidylcholine is possibly safe when used in products also containing niacinamide for up to 12 weeks.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Phosphatidylcholine is possibly safe when used in doses up to 30 grams daily for 6 weeks, or up to 6 grams daily for up to 2 years. It's generally well-tolerated. Side effects might include altered taste, bloating, diarrhea, itching, nausea, and sweating.

When applied to the skin: Phosphatidylcholine is possibly safe when used in products also containing niacinamide for up to 12 weeks.

Pregnancy: Phosphatidylcholine is possibly safe when taken by mouth starting at 18 weeks of pregnancy at doses up to 5 grams daily.

Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if phosphatidylcholine is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE overview.

Dosing

Phosphatidylcholine has most often been used by adults in doses of 1.05-6 grams by mouth daily for up to 24 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.