Lecithin is usually used as synonym for phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid which is
the major component of a phosphatide fraction which may be isolated from either egg
yolk (in Greek lekithos ), or soy beans. It is commercially available in high purity
as a food
supplement and for medical uses.
Nervous and circulatory lecithin is produced by the liver if the diet is adequate.
It is needed by every cell in the body and is a key building block of cell
membranes; without it, they would harden. Lecithin protects cells from oxidation and
largely comprises the protective sheaths surrounding the brain.
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