Soy lecithin is just one of dozens of different types of lecithin known to science. Lecithin is a generic word to describe the oily fats found in animal and plant tissue which contain specific components like fatty acids and triglycerides.
There are so many different forms of lecithin that it's nearly impossible to list them all. The term "lecithin" was first introduced in 1847 by Theodore Mobley, a French pharmacist and chemist who isolated lecithin from egg yolks. Soy lecithin can be found in some nutritional supplements.
Lecithin can be easily extracted from most plants and animal tissues, but none as easily as soybean oil. This is the primary reason why soy lecithin is one of the most common forms of the substance on the market. It is often used as a food additive because of its properties as an emulsifier.
As an emulsifier lecithin allows substances that would not normally blend well still be used together in food recipes. Lecithin is also a good surfactant and lubricant, so it has quite a few industrial uses as well.
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Soy Lecithin and Choline While soy lecithin is not necessarily one of the most popular ingredients in nutritional supplements, it is sometimes used to promote heart health and good brain function because of its high content of choline. Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute refe... more
While soy lecithin is not necessarily one of the most popular ingredients in nutritional supplements, it is sometimes used to promote heart health and good brain function because of its high content of choline. Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute references choline as a component to good heart health because of its ability to control hemocysteines in the body.
Elevated hemocysteines are well-known to promote heart disease because of their damaging effects. But choline is able to transform excess hemocysteines into harmless substances. Increased choline levels have also been shown to be helpful in promoting good cell structure, a properly functioning nervous system, and fat metabolism.
The fact that soy lecithin contains such high amounts of choline means that it can be used as a supplement to promote good health in these areas. Whether or not soy lecithin is helpful in treating already existing conditions is not clear.
Although the health benefits of soy lecithin are documented, they are also somewhat negligible unless taken in pretty substantial amounts. Therefore, when soy lecithin is included in nutritional supplements it is almost always for non-health related reasons.
Citing the previously mentioned emulsification properties of soy lecithin, this is one of the most common reasons it is used by supplement manufacturers. Many of the ingredients used in supplements do not blend well if left to themselves. Soy lecithin makes the blending process possible.
To make this a little more clear, here’s the example of chocolate liquor and cocoa butter. Both of these ingredients are essential in making chocolate bars and other types of candy. Yet trying to mix both substances together does not work without a suitable emulsifier.
By adding soy lecithin to their recipes, candy makers are able to produce our favorite confections knowing they won't disintegrate in our hands as soon as they are unwrapped. Soy lecithin in nutritional supplements provides very similar benefits.
There is some hope that soy lecithin can be mixed with several other substances as a treatment for stress-related mental disorders. A 2004 study published by the National Institutes for Health shows positive results that may be beneficial for future supplement manufacturing. If ongoing tests continue to show the same benefits it is likely we'll see soy lecithin, mixed with these other substances, being used on a more widespread basis.
Although specific testing in relation to soy lecithin overdose and toxicity has not been undertaken, there have been no documented side effects in relation to the health benefits studies that have been conducted. Soy lecithin has been determined to be completely safe when ingested as a food additive or a nutritional supplement ingredient.
That being said, experts warn that too much of anything could be potentially dangerous to humans. They suggest that all supplements be taken in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Individuals who suffer from soy allergies don't need to worry about soy lecithin unless they are extremely sensitive. That's because allergic reactions require proteins to be activated, and soy lecithin contains none of those proteins.
It would be highly unusual for someone with soy allergies to react to soy lecithin additives in either food or supplements. Any reactions that do occur should be mild in nature and should be restricted only to the most sensitive allergy sufferers.
If you are one of the rare individuals who is extremely sensitive and does exhibit allergic reactions, you should cease consumption of soy lecithin immediately. You should also contact your physician to let them know exactly what your reaction was. Your doctor will be the best qualified person to direct you in any further course of action deemed necessary.
If you are looking to reap the benefits of choline by using a supplement which contains soy lecithin, try the supplement finder now!
| None Known |
| Lecithin |
| Brain Function |
| Emulsifier |
| Food Additive |
| Heart Health |
| Cell Health |
| Fat Metabolizer |
| Nervous System Health |