Lecithin’s Role in Reducing Cholesterol

1. Lecithin’s Role in Reducing Cholesterol Lecithin Ladies Alana Weatherly Heather Albertson Hollie Auerbach Rikki Somers

2. Group 6 Rikki Somers, Heather Albertson, Hollie Auerbach, Alana Weatherly

3. Cholesterol By: Alana Weatherly

4. What is cholesterol? • Soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream • Responsible for producing cell membranes and some hormones • High levels can led to coronary heart disease • LDL and HDL cholesterol

5. LDL Cholesterol • LDL is the “bad” cholesterol • High levels causes a build up in inner arterial walls • LDL leads to plaque build up that clogs the arteries • Condition is atherosclerosis and puts one at risk for heart attack or stroke • 100 mg/dL is optimal, high risk is 160 mg/dL and above

6. HDL Cholesterol • HDL is the “good” cholesterol • High levels protect against heart attack • Believed it carries cholesterol back to liver, were it’s passed or removes excess cholesterol plaque from arteries • 40 mg/dL or less is a risk for heart disease

7. Levels of Cholesterol • Total blood cholesterol Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dLBorderline high risk — 200–239 mg/dLHigh risk — 240 mg/dL and over • LDL cholesterol • Desirable-Less than 100 mg/dL Borderline High risk- 130 to 159 mg/dL High risk- 160 to 189 mg/dL • HDL cholesterol Average man-40 to 50 mg/dL Average woman-50 to 60 mg/dL Low- less than 40 mg/dL

8. Sources of Cholesterol • Produced in the body • Consumption of animal products Meats, poultry, fish, egg, butter, cheeses, and whole milk • Plant products don’t have cholesterol

9. Introducing Lecithin By: Heather Albertson

10. What is lecithin? • Another name for lecithin is phosphatidylcholine. • Commercial form • We are focusing on the chemical form of lecithin. Structure of Phosphatidylcholine:

11. Lecithin is regarded as a nontoxic emulsifier in many cases. Lecithin is needed in every cell of the body because it is a key building block in cell membranes. We have learned thus far in this class how important cell membranes are when dealing with chemical messengers and hormones. Preventative against: Atherosclerosis Gallstones Heart disease Liver problems Hypercholesterolemia Basic Functions of Lecithin

12. Phosphatidylcholine Actions • Phosphatidylcholine is important for normal cellular composition and repair. • It is the major delivery form of choline, which is a precursor to the synthesis of acetylcholine and other phospholipids. • Studies show decreased absorption of cholesterol from foods and the production of LDL.

13. Sources of Lecithin • Cabbage • Cauliflower • Liver • Oatmeal • Soybeans • Egg yolks • Meat

14. How is lecithin associated with a reduction in cholesterol? • By Rikki Somers

15. Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase • The enzyme that converts cholesterol into long-chain cholesteryl esters on HDL and promotes cholesterol movement from tissues into HDL • Structure of this enzyme • Its secondary structure contains -pleated sheets and -helices in addition to a high number of loops. • Tertiary structure not yet known according to a review of this molecule by A. Jonas published in 2000

16. Here’s how it works…. • Cholesterol transport in blood is carried out by low- and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). • LDL transport cholesterol from the liver to peripheral tissues • HDL transports cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver for excretion as bile salts and to steroidogenic tissues for synthesis of steroid hormones. • This ‘reverse transport’ of cholesterol by HDL is associated with the plasma enzyme, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)

17. A more detailed look… • Most of LCAT is produced in the liver and travels throughout the circulatory system in blood • It binds to HDL where it is then: • - activated by the major protein component of HDL, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) • - converts cholesterol and phosphatidylcholines (lecithins) into cholesteryl esters and lysophosphatidylcholines by a transesterification reaction involving a Asp–His–Ser catalytic triad • Active learning – can you draw the amino acid structures for Asp, His, and Ser? (just the individual structures) • The formation and accumulation of cholesteryl esters in HDL removes cholesterol from the surface of HDL and promotes entry of cholesterol from cell membranes into the HDL molecule

18. A- Topology of the general alpha/beta hydrolase fold • B- Three-dimensional model of the core structure of LCAT

19. Reaction steps of LCAT on the surface of HDL. E represents LCAT in solution and bound to the HDL lipid surface. E* is the LCAT form activated by apoA-I. E*-acyl represents the acylated form of the enzyme. PC and C are the lipid substrates of LCAT, and lysoPC and CE are the products of the reaction

20. What did we learn? • Without phosphatidylcholine, lecithin, LCAT would not be able to function! • Without LCAT function, blood cholesterol levels could be detrimental to health!

21. Lecithin as a Supplement by Hollie Auerbach

22. Topics to Discuss: - Background - Forms - How to Use - Recommended Daily Intake and Safe Dosage - Storage - Side Effects

23. Background • In 1958, Dr. Lester M. Morrison published his discovery that lecithin could be used to lower cholesterol. • He reported that 80% of his patients that had high levels of cholesterol showed an average decrease of 41% in their serum cholesterol after taking lecithin for several weeks. • Supplemental lecithin usually comes from soybeans. The commercially produced product known as lecithin is only about 1/3 chemically pure lecithin; the other 2/3 is made up of other phospholipids.

24. Forms of Lecithin • Capsules • Liquid • Powder • Granules- highest concentration of lecithin • People may find that the oil in liquid form of lecithin and the capsules tend to aggravate complexion problems; these people should take the lecithin granules. • Granular lecithin has a slight nutlike taste and can be taken with any drink.

25. Granules

26. Softgels

27. How to Take Lecithin • Take tablets with a full glass of any liquid and swallow. • Dilute the liquid lecithin in a glass of water or other liquid • Take all forms with food ½ to 1 hour after a meal unless otherwise directed by your physician.

28. Men~ 550 mg Women~ 425 mg No more than 1 g per day RDI and Safe Dosage WARNING: DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL AND EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET….and remember that MORE IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER!!!

29. Storage • Keep in a cool and dry place, away from direct light, do not freeze. • Keep away from children. • Do not keep in a bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and dampness may alter the action of the supplement.

30. Side Effects • Taking Lecithin in high dosages may cause: - Dizziness - Fishy body odor - Nausea or vomiting - Headaches - Gastrointestinal upset - Loss of appetite If any of these side effects occur, consult your doctor right away.

31. References • http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins-guide/lecithin-phosphatidylcholine.html • http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Ans/psychology/health_psychology/Lecithin_SUPPLEMENT.htm • http://www.members.aol.com/hlthresrch/lecithin.html • http://www.day-spas.org/herbs/phosphatidylcoline.html

32. References Continued • http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofile/nutsupdrugs • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylcholine • Jonas A. 2000. Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids(1529)1-3:245-256.