Lecithins

Studies in people

• Open question

  Diet and blood cholesterol²

  Studies on lecithin and cholesterol were flawed, and any cholesterol drop likely came from its linoleic acid, not lecithin itself.

• Benefit

  Blood fats and bile³

  Taking soya lecithin for four weeks slightly lowered blood triglycerides and phospholipids, but left cholesterol and bile unchanged.

• Open question

  Soy allergy risk⁶

  Soy lecithin and soy oil contain only tiny traces of soy proteins, and these rarely set off soy allergy reactions.

• Benefit

  Infant visual development⁷

  In formula-fed babies, adding egg yolk lecithin raised DHA and AA levels and improved vision at 2 months.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Baby formula fat absorption¹⁰

  Lecithin helped baby formula fats break down better, which may help babies get enough fat.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and blood fats⁸

  Lecithins may help lower cholesterol and blood fats, but scientists still disagree about how they affect fat digestion.

How it’s made and used

• Marathon running and choline levels⁴

  Taking lecithin before a marathon kept choline levels steady, but runners did not finish any faster.

• Choline levels in the blood⁵

  Lecithin raised choline in people's blood higher and for longer than choline chloride did.

• Particle size in storage⁹

  In lab studies, lecithin particles in water stayed small for three months when kept cold, but grew larger at room temperature.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.