Phosphatidylcholine
TMW's phosphatidylcholine energizing our scientifically engineered liposomes, but as an ingredient, PC, is also for its myriad health benefits.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) plays an important role in the formation and renewal of the cell membranes as well as in the regeneration of damaged cells. Supplementation showed positive effects on liver regeneration and the blood lipid status. Furthermore, PC is a natural source of the vitamin-like nutrient choline that can be marketed with several health claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is an essential phospholipid that forms a major component of cell membranes in all living organisms. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity and fluidity of these membranes, which are vital for proper cellular function.
Cell membranes act as selective barriers, regulating the movement of molecules in and out of cells, while also serving as a platform for various cellular processes. The unique structure of PC, with a hydrophilic (water-loving) head group and two hydrophobic (water-repelling) fatty acid tails, makes it an ideal building block for the lipid bilayer that forms the foundation of cell membranes.
The hydrophobic fatty acid tails of PC molecules align together, forming the inner core of the membrane, while the hydrophilic head groups face outward, interacting with the aqueous environments inside and outside the cell. This arrangement creates a stable, yet dynamic, structure that allows for the selective permeability and fluidity necessary for cellular processes.
PC is also involved in the formation of membrane proteins and lipid rafts, which are specialized regions within the membrane that play crucial roles in cell signaling, protein trafficking, and various other cellular functions. The ability of PC to modulate membrane fluidity is essential for maintaining the proper conformation and function of these membrane-bound proteins and lipid rafts.
Additionally, PC serves as a precursor for several important signaling molecules, such as phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol, which are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism.
The dynamic nature of cell membranes, with constant movement and reorganization of lipids and proteins, requires a continuous supply of PC to maintain their integrity and function. Adequate levels of PC are therefore essential for the proper functioning of cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body.
Benefits:
Cell membrane structure and function: PC is a major component of cell membranes, contributing to their structural integrity and fluidity.
It helps maintain the proper function of cell membranes, which is essential for cellular communication, nutrient transport, and waste removal.
Brain health and cognitive function: PC is abundant in the brain and plays a role in the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory, learning, and cognitive function.
It has been studied for its potential benefits in improving cognitive performance, memory, and reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline.
PC may also have neuroprotective effects, helping to protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation
Liver health: PC is a precursor for the production of bile, which is necessary for fat digestion and the elimination of toxins from the body.
It supports liver health by promoting the proper flow of bile and preventing the accumulation of fat and toxins in the liver.
Cardiovascular health: PC is a major component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as "good" cholesterol.
It helps promote healthy cholesterol levels and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can contribute to plaque formation in arteries.
PC has been shown to improve endothelial function, which is crucial for maintaining healthy blood vessels and proper blood flow.
Cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease are associated with a disordered fat metabolism.
Phosphatidylcholine has a positive impact on blood lipid levels, for instance by supporting the transport of cholesterol from the liver to the peripheral tissues, making PC beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Gut health: PC is a precursor to phosphatidic acid, which plays a role in the maintenance of the gut mucosal barrier.
It may help improve gut barrier function, preventing the leakage of harmful substances from the gut into the bloodstream.
PC can also support the growth and proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to a healthy gut microbiome.
Antioxidant properties: PC has been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in the body.
Reproductive health: PC is a component of sperm membranes and plays a role in embryonic development, making it potentially beneficial for reproductive health.
Phosphatidylcholine effects on the 12 Hallmarks of Aging:
Telomere Attrition:
By protecting DNA through membrane structures [4] and reducing oxidative stress [10], PC helps to keep telomeres (and therefore the encoding DNA attached) healthy.
Epigenetic Alterations:
PC influences epigenetic modifications indirectly through its role in methylation processes. The choline structure of PC is a source of methyl groups for DNA and histone methylation, impacting gene expression and epigenetic regulation [9].
Cellular Senescence:
PC was shown to protect against the negative effects of cellular senescence as well as reducing reactive oxidative species in cholangiocyte cells with LPC induced cellular senescence [1]. PC’s antioxidant properties also inherently help to reduce cellular senescence [1].
Inflammation:
PC has anti-inflammatory properties. It can modulate the activity of inflammatory pathways, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. PC supplementation has been shown to lower inflammation markers in various models, potentially benefiting conditions like fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and ulcerative colitis [2,3].
Dysregulated Autophagy:
PC is necessary for the formation of autophagosomes, which are involved in macroautophagy. Adequate levels of PC are required for the proper function of autophagic processes that degrade and recycle cellular components [6].
Genomic instability:
Because PC is the most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cellular membranes [4], it makes sense that PC is crucial for maintaining the integrity of cell membranes, including nuclear membranes. This stability is essential for protecting DNA from damage. PC deficiency can lead to membrane dysfunction and genomic instability.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction:
Along the same lines as genomic stability, PC is a component of mitochondrial membranes [4] and is essential for mitochondrial function. It affects mitochondrial membrane integrity and the prevention of oxidative stress [10]. PC deficiency can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and associated metabolic issues.
Stem Cell Exhaustion:
Apart from contributing to the membranes of stem cells [4], PC has been shown to increase successful differentiation of neuronal stem cells in spite of inflammatory factors after injury [11]. This results in an increase in the population of healthy normal neurons.
Loss of Proteostasis:
PC contributes to the maintenance of proteostasis by affecting membrane fluidity and the function of membrane-bound proteases and chaperones. This can influence the folding, trafficking, and degradation of proteins [4].
Deregulated Nutrient Sensing:
Animal studies showed that PPC has protective effects against lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis, and thus can be used for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the prevention of its further progression [5].
Intercelluar Communication:
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cellular membranes and plays an important structural role in membranes and lipoproteins. As well, PC participates in signal transduction by providing a major source of lipid second messengers [4].
Sources (General):
Cell membrane structure and function:
Cui, Z., & Houweling, M. (2002). Phosphatidylcholine and cell death. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1585(2-3), 87-96:
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1388-1981(02)00331-7
Ridgway, N. D., & McLeod, R. S. (2016). Biochemistry of lipids, lipoproteins and membranes (6th ed.). Elsevier Science.
Brain health and cognitive function:
Chung, S. Y., Moriyama, T., Uezu, E., Uezu, K., Hirata, R., Yohena, N., ... & Kokubo, T. (1995). Administration of phosphatidylcholine increases brain acetylcholine concentration and improves memory in mice with dementia. The Journal of Nutrition, 125(6), 1484-1489:
https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/125.6.1484
Kidd, P. M. (2007). Alzheimer's disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and age-associated memory impairment: current understanding and progress toward integrative prevention. Alternative Medicine Review, 12(2), 85-115.
Liver health:
Lieber, C. S., Robins, S. J., Li, J., DeCarli, L. M., Mak, K. M., Fasulo, J. M., & Leo, M. A. (1994). Phosphatidylcholine protects against fibrosis and cirrhosis in the baboon. Gastroenterology, 106(1), 152-159:
https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(94)90560-6
Cao, Y., Ying, X., Li, W., Xiong, C., Wang, Y., Ma, Q., ... & Yu, C. (2023). Phosphatidylcholine supplementation attenuates liver injury and inflammation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Nutrients, 15(2), 316:
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020316
Cardiovascular health:
Dai, J., Luo, Z., Lu, J., Chen, Y., Li, S., Sun, H., ... & Cao, Z. (2022). Phosphatidylcholine decreases atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-deficient mice by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 839436:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.839436
Nikkila, J., Virkkunen, A., Ala-Korpela, M., & Soininen, P. (2022). Phosphatidylcholine and human health: insights from a comprehensive lipid profiling approach. Nutrition Reviews, 80(3), 631-648:
https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuab027
Gut health:
Stremmel, W., Merle, U., Zahn, A., Autschbach, F., Hinz, U., & Ehehalt, R. (2005). Retarded release phosphatidylcholine benefits patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. Gut, 54(7), 966-971:
https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2004.052316
Kuipers, F., Bloks, V. W., & Groen, A. K. (2014). Beyond intestinal bile acid sequestration: the pleiotropic effects of cholestyramine in liver, metabolism and beyond. Gastroenterology, 146(4), 1145-1153:
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2014.02.032
Sources (12 Hallmarks):
[1] Protective effect of phosphatidylcholine on lysophosphatidylcholine-induced cellular senescence in cholangiocyte:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jhbp.684
[2] Anti-inflammatory action of a phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-enriched diet in carrageenan-induced pleurisy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18987473/#:~:text=Background%2Faims%3A
[3] Anti-inflammatory effects of phosphatidylcholine:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2693065/
[4] Phosphatidylcholine breakdown and signal transduction:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0005276094901864
[5] Effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine as adjunctive therapy in improving liver function tests in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic comorbidities: real-life observational study from Russia:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7170405
[6] Phospholipid imbalance impairs autophagosome completion:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9713711/
[7] Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease:
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature09922
[8] Intestinal microbial metabolism of phosphatidylcholine: a novel insight in the cardiovascular risk scenario:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4526767/
[9] Metabolic, Epigenetic, and Transgenerational Effects of Gut Bacterial Choline Consumption:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5599363/
[10] Dietary phosphatidylcholine affects growth performance, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848621004774
[11] Phosphatidylcholine restores neuronal plasticity of neural stem cells under inflammatory stress:
