1. Improves Cholesterol Levels
Dietary soy lecithin supplementation is most strongly connected with decreasing hyperlipidemia and influencing lipid metabolism. It’s known for its important role in processing fat and cholesterol, which is why people sometimes take soy lecithin supplements to lower cholesterol naturally.
Research suggests that properties of lecithin have the ability to reduce the excess of LDL cholesterol and promote the synthesis of HDL in the liver.
A 2010 study published in the journal Cholesterol evaluated total cholesterol and LDL levels after soy lecithin administration in patients with diagnosed hypercholesterolemia levels. For the study, one 500-milligram soy lecithin supplement was taken by 30 volunteers every day, and the results were quite astounding.
Researchers found the following to be true after patients supplemented with soy lecithin:
- A reduction of 41 percent in total cholesterol after 1 month
- A reduction of 42 percent in total cholesterol after 2 months
- A reduction of 42 percent in LDL after 1 month
- A reduction of 56 percent in LDL after 2 months
This study suggests that soy lecithin may be used as a dietary supplement for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
2. Serves as a Source of Choline
Soy lecithin contains phosphatidylcholine, which is one of the primary forms of choline, a macronutrient that plays an important role in liver function, muscle movement, metabolism, nerve function and proper brain development.
Researchers at the University of Wales Swansea revealed that phosphatidylcholine supplementation has been found to support healthy cholesterol levels, liver function and brain function. Many of the potential benefits of soy lecithin powder or supplements come from the choline content.
3. May Boost Immunity
Soy lecithin supplementation has been shown to significantly boost immune function among diabetic rats. Brazilian researchers discovered that daily supplementation with soy lecithin caused macrophage activity (white blood cells that engulf foreign debris) of diabetic rats to increase by 29 percent.
Additionally, they discovered that lymphocyte (white blood cells that are fundamental to the immune system) numbers skyrocketed 92 percent in non-diabetic rats. This suggests that, at least in rats, soy lecithin has immunomodulatory effects.
More research is needed to conclude the role of soy lecithin in the human immune system.
4. Helps Body Deal with Physical and Mental Stress
One of the many keys to soy lecithin’s health benefits is a compound known as phosphatidylserine — a common phospholipid that helps make up part of the cell membranes in plants and animals. Known to affect stress hormones adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, phosphatidylserine derived from cow brains has been shown to dampen response to physical stress.
Testing to see how phosphatidylserine derived from soy lecithin compared, German researchers evaluated the effects that soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (a combination referred to as PAS) supplementation has on ACTH, cortisol and a psychological evaluation known as the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory stress subscale.
Published in the Danish journal Stress, the trial compared 400 milligrams, 600 milligrams and 800 milligrams of PAS on groups of 20 people each. The researchers not only discovered that PAS has some pretty remarkable effects on the human psyche, but they uncovered that it is dose-dependent.
They found a sweet spot with the 400 milligrams of PAS because it is considerably more effective at blunting serum ACTH and cortisol levels than the larger doses.
This study suggests that specific properties in soy lecithin may have a selective stress-dampening effect and may even be used in the natural treatment of stress-related disorders.
5 Improve Cognitive Function
A three-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Advances in Therapyevaluated the positive effects of a supplement containing a blend of 300 milligrams of phosphatidylserine and 240 milligrams of phosphatidic acid that was produced from soy lecithin.
The supplement or placebo was given to non-depressive elderly patients with memory problems three times a day for three months. In a separate investigation, the supplement was given to patients with Alzheimer’s disease to measure its effect on their daily functioning, mental health, emotional state and self-reported general condition.
Researchers found that by the end of the treatment period, the supplement blend made from properties found in soy lecithin significantly improved memory and prevented the “winter blues” in elderly patients compared to those receiving the placebo.
Among the Alzheimer’s disease patients, the supplement group had a 3.8 percent deterioration and 90.6 percent stability in daily functioning compared to 17.9 percent and 79.5 percent under the placebo. Plus, 49 percent of those in the treatment group reported an improved general condition compared to 26.3 percent of those receiving the placebo.
These findings suggest that soy lecithin-derived phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid may have a positive influence on memory, cognition and mood among the elderly and those suffering from cognitive conditions.
6. May Prevent Osteoporosis
Although the research is mixed, there are studies indicating that soybean and soy-based ingredients, including soy lecithin, act as antiresorptive and bone-enhancing agents in preventing osteoporosis. This is due to the isoflavones found in soy, specifically the glycosides.
According to a scientific review published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, epidemiologic studies have found that elderly Asian women have a lower incidence of hip fractures than Caucasian women, and further research indicates that the consumption of soy products is much higher among Asians than caucasians.
Researchers state that soy-based products could “potentially lower the bone loss rate and decrease the risk of fracture.” This may be due to soy’s estrogenic effects, as estrogen deficiency induced by menopause has been shown to accelerate bone loss in older women.
It also may be due to properties in soy (notably the glycosides) that have antioxidant, antiproliferative, estrogenic and immune-modulating effects.
7. Relieves Menopause Symptoms
In addition to its potential benefit for osteoporosis, research suggests that soy lecithin supplements may help improve menopause symptoms by improving vigor and blood pressure levels in menopausal women. A 2018 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study including 96 women between the ages of 40 to 60 sought to investigate whether or not soy lecithin supplements could help to relieve symptoms of fatigue.
The participants were randomized to receive active tablets containing high-dose (1,200 milligrams per day) or low-dose (600 milligrams per day) soy lecithin or a placebo for an eight-week period.
Researchers found that the improvements in fatigue symptoms, diastolic blood pressure and cardio-ankle vascular index (to measure arterial stiffness) were greater in the high-dose group compared with the placebo group.
8. May Help Prevent Cancer
A 2011 study published in the journal Epidemiology found that there may be a reduced risk of breast cancer associated with lecithin supplement use. Researchers weren’t able to make any conclusive statements about it being able to treat cancer but suggested that their findings should be considered “hypothesis-generating.”
This link between soy lecithin and decreased breast cancer risk may be due to the presence of phosphatidylcholine in soy lecithin, which is converted to choline when ingested.
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