Can phospphatidylcholine improve memory?

What is Phosphatidylcholine?

That’s a mouthful. It sounds like something fancy. But it’s not. It’s actually pretty common food.

Most of us who are not vegan or vegetarian eats about 3 to 6 grams of lecithin a day.

Lecithin and phosphatidylcholine are used interchangeably because phosphatidylcholine is made up of mostly lecithin. Choline is also a component of lecithin. Choline is a component of phosphatidylcholine, which is a component of lecithin. Therefore, they’re all pretty much the same thing.

Phosphatidylcholine and Brain function

Phosphatidylcholine is a membrane structure protein and makes up a big part of cell membranes.

The reason why there is such an interest in phoshpatidylcholine is because the body uses it to make acetylcholine, a brain chemical involves in memory. Phosphatidylcholine is shown to be able to increase acetylcholine level. PC is thought to help with brain conditions, such as memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, manic-depressive disorders, and a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter.

In the CNS, acetylcholine modulates between various neurons in areas of the brain that control motivation, arousal, and attention. Critical cholinergic pathway deterioration in the CNS has been associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Phosphatidylcholine for better memory

 

Unfortunately, the current research findings do not consistently support the role of phosphatidylcholine in helping with cognitive function, and that supplementation with PC does not seem to result in any dramatic effects on mental cognitive abilities. The benefit on brain function from taking lecithin or PC supplements is only minimal.

As mentioned earlier, a typical person consumes about 3 to 6 grams of lecithin a day, which means the risk of phosphatidylcholine deficiency is low. However, because each human being are unique genetically, there are always a few person who are difficulty biochemically in making adequate amounts of phosphatidylcholine from scratch. Certainly, these individuals would benefit from PC supplementation.

Don’t give up yet…

I have a colleague who swears that phosphatidylcholine works wonders on his 2 year old son, who was diagnosed with autism.

I know, I know.

He’s too young to be diagnosed with autism. But he does have all the signs – speech delay, SUPER intelligent. I know this boy’s developmental pediatrician. This boy knows the difference between trapezium and rhombus at a tender age of 1 year old. According to dad, he recognizes most of the alphabet (English alphabets) and sight-read a couple words.

Anyway, my colleague told me since starting PC, his son is able to communicate more and able to recognize kids of his age and interact with them. However, the oral aversion is still a problem.

Did I mention this child is also on the gluten-free casein-free diet?

Related article: The ADHD Diet for Kids That Work

My point here is studies only tell you what’s most likely to happen to the general population. Until you try it out yourself, you’ll never know if you’re the responding group or the non-responding group.

Phosphatidylcholine supplementation is also recommended in the book “What’s Eating Your Child?: The Hidden Connection Between Food and Childhood Ailments” by Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND for sensory processing disorder and speech apraxia.

What food is high in phosphatidylcholine?

Many vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and dairy products contain choline. Includes a variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), nuts, seeds, and soy products. Fish, beef, poultry, eggs, and some beans and nuts are rich sources of choline

Supplementation

If you plan to take the supplement instead, stay with a lower dose for your child, something like three grams a day or less

Related article: 7 Brain Food Kids Should Eat Everyday

A successful natural ADHD treatment should start with the foundational basics that feed and support your child’s brain growth and development, so you don’t waste time and money on another expensive supplements that do not work for your child. 

I hope you find this article helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below.

Are you ready to learn more about how to help your child have more good days in school, enjoy better mood, less emotional meltdowns and no more text or phone calls from the school without medicating?

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Anna

Clean Eating Officer (CEO) at Malama Wellness + Hypnotherapy
I'm Anna, a passionate dietitian and hypnotherapist dedicated to helping parents of kids with ADHD unlock the transformative potential of healthy eating and holistic approaches. With years of experience in pediatric nutrition and a focus on mind-body connection, I provide personalized guidance and practical tools to support positive behavioral changes and nurture your child's well-being.
I'm Anna, a passionate dietitian and hypnotherapist dedicated to helping parents of kids with ADHD unlock the transformative potential of healthy eating and holistic approaches. With years of experience in pediatric nutrition and a focus on mind-body connection, I provide personalized guidance and practical tools to support positive behavioral changes and nurture your child's well-being.

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