Posted by Larry Hoover on December 17, 2003, at 9:06:21
In reply to Lecithin improves Omega-3 absorption-- Is it true?, posted by Psychopoppy on December 17, 2003, at 1:54:25
> Thats what the herb expert at my pharmacy said.
>
> I know Lecithin provides a substrate for acetylcholine thus increasing its levels, but how does it help with omega-3 absorption, I wonder !?
>
> Does anyone know more about this.. ?Lecithin is an emulsifier....it permits the mixing of liquids that would otherwise not mix.
When you make mayonnaise, you use egg yolk (lecithin source) to allow the vinegar and oil to blend without separating out. Otherwise you'd have something like a more classic salad dressing, which you have to shake vigorously every time you use it, or you just get the oil off the top.
Same thing goes with food in your intestines. Your gall bladder secretes a number of emulsifiers to assist in the uptake of fatty acids (one of them being cholesterol, by the way). That's why I specifically mention taking fish oil with your fattiest meal of the day.....there may not be enough fat in the fish oil alone to trigger maximal gall bladder secretions, but if there's lots of fat in the meal, the fish oil gets maximal exposure to the gall secretions.
So, taking lecithin with fish oil may help. It certainly cannot hurt. You needn't take lecithin caps, as the soya lecithin granules are much cheaper, and provide other stuff as well, besides phosphatidylcholine.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:290829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031204/msgs/290885.html