Phosphatidylcholine, or PC for those of us who appreciate a convenient abbreviation, is receiving a lot of attention as a brain health supplement and for good reason. But before we discuss the cognitive benefits of a PC we have to mention the fact that this is a crucial element that is actually found in every cell of our body and plays a major role in all organ function from Heart to Brain to Liver and beyond.
So What Exactly is Phosphatidylcholine?
Every cell in the body is made up of thousands of molecules, each serving a particular function. PC has recently been recognized as one of the most important of those molecules. It forms the structural “skin” of the cell, the cell membrane. The cell membrane is the part of the cell where nutrient absorption, RNA communication, ion distribution and many more critical biological functions occur.
Furthermore, PC acts a fat emulsifier. This means it helps break down excess fat deposits 24 hours a day 7 days a week, year after year.
Brain Health:
As stated earlier, PC has received a lot of attention as a brain health chemical and for good reason. Phosphatidylcholine helps the body make a brain chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a major role in memory formation. Lack of acetylcholine has been linked to a number of cognitive diseases including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Huntington's chorea, Tourette's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. PC’s unique ability to help synthesize acetylcholine makes it a highly valued brain health chemical.
Liver Health:
PC is most abundant in the brain and the liver. The liver is constantly in a state of repair. PC helps repair cell membranes. Research shows that PC plays a major role in the prevention of liver toxicity. PC may protect liver cells from viral damage, ameliorate fibrosis, and prevent cell death from drugs, alcohol and other chemical toxins. PC is essentially the main building block that the live uses to repair itself and a healthy liver is vitally important to a healthy life.
Intestinal Health:
The protective mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract plays a major role in keeping nutrients moving in the right direction and preventing hostile microorganisms and toxins from going places they shouldn’t go. PC helps protect the protective mucus layer of the G.I. tract. Furthermore, PC can help mitigate GI injury by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect.
New evidence shows that PC can help protect the stomach against damage from NSAID’s like tylenol.
Should you take PC:
Do you take Tylenol or other NSAID’s on a regular basis?
Do you suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort?
Do you drink alcohol on a regular basis?
Do you have a family history of alzheimers, dementia and other age related disorders?
Do you have a family history of Liver disease?
Do you have Hepatitis A, B, or C?
Answer yes to one of these questions and you should strongly consider a PC supplement. Answer yes to two or more and you should definitely incorporate a PC supplement into your daily regimen.