What do eggs and whole grains have in common? They contain phosphatidylcholine, a nutrient offered in our Toronto IV therapy Lounge as a vitamin drip. 

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is not a vitamin or mineral. Rather, it’s a phospholipid, a fatty molecule that helps shape your cell structures. Patients may supplement with PC to up their dietary intake of a nutrient derived from PC called choline. Choline is an essential nutrient that your body requires, but it’s not commonly prioritized in a health regime. “Because of its wide-ranging roles in human metabolism … choline deficiency is now thought to have an impact on diseases such as liver disease, atherosclerosis and possibly neurological disorders,” states a Nutrition Reviews article. 

Here, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) highlights the following: 

• • Common questions and answers about PC
  • How to boost it in your body
  • Information about getting a custom-made IV drip from our IV Lounge. 

Phosphatidylcholine Questions and Answers

Q. What does phosphatidylcholine do for your body?

A. The human body must have ideal amounts of this nutrient, as it’s a precursor to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that helps with the functioning of nerves, triggering nerve cells to release messages throughout the body. It has pivotal roles in muscle function (i.e. contractions) and contributes to boosting brain function, especially learning and memory. Because of acetylcholine’s impact on brain health, some Alzheimer’s patients take PC supplements to help  manage their condition.

Q. What happens when your body lacks phosphatidylcholine?

A. If you have low choline levels, you may have issues sustaining PC amounts in your body. Choline is important because it’s needed to make PC! So, if you have a phosphatidylcholine nutrient deficiency, you’re at risk of forming added health concerns, such as: muscle and liver damage, chronic fatigue (due to poor energy metabolism), weak cellular functioning, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and cardiovascular health declines.

Q. What are the beneficial effects of supplementing with PC? 

A. Phosphatidylcholine contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components. When taken as a supplement, it may offer these benefits: 

• • May boost energy on a cellular level: The mitochondria are the ‘powerhouses’ of your cells. Augmenting PC can support the mitochondria to optimize energy production and possibly prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 
  • May help support fat breakdown for weight management: Obesity has been linked to PC deficiencies. Phosphatidylcholine naturally stimulates fat burning, so it may be ideal for health goals linked to lowering BMI, preventing fatty liver disease, or reducing fat buildup. 
  • Fosters the healthy growth of the fetus: Supplementing with PC while pregnant can support the development of the fetus’ brain, spinal cord, and spine. (Please see a functional healthcare provider to inquire about your dosage.)
  • May support healthy brain function: One human study correlated low PC with Alzheimer’s disease. PC could help foster cognitive function (i.e. memory) by replenishing PC, acetylcholine and choline levels. 
  • Could offer improvements to gut health: Inflammation and ulcers can form with ulcerative colitis. One study linked low PC levels to this health condition; PC supplements could potentially lessen inflammation and protect the mucus lining in the digestive tract. 

A functional healthcare provider may offer valuable advice if you’re struggling with cellular damage, poor mental clarity, and other symptoms linked to PC deficits. Your health practitioner will likely discuss your current health goals, medical history, and quality of life, and may run functional medicine testing. If you’re lacking phosphatidylcholine, treatments can be tailored for your needs, which may include nutraceuticals, dietary changes, and/or intravenous therapy. 

Suggested reading: How to Tell You Need a B12 Supplement: An IV Therapy Toronto Reference Sheet

About Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation

Interested in boosting your PC levels? First, you can alter your diet with PC-containing foods, such as whole grains, eggs, fish, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, cottage cheese and kidney beans. However, food may not always provide optimal amounts of PC, so oral supplementation or intravenous therapy may be beneficial, too. 

PC powders and softgels can be added to your daily routine and they’re easily accessible. If you struggle with poor nutrient absorption (malabsorption), vitamin IV therapy may be added to your treatment plan. Intravenous drips are designed to release a nutritional formula into the blood stream only. This allows for a complete and rapid absorption of nutrients that can help relieve nutrient deficiencies. Our IV Lounge currently offers phosphatidylcholine IV therapy and you can discover more about this treatment service by clicking here. 

How can phosphatidylcholine fit into your health regime? Let’s find out, and we’ll personalize an IV drip for your unique needs. If you’re waiting for the ‘right time’ to make healthy changes, consider this your sign to start now! Reach out to our Toronto clinic today. 

About Our IV Lounge in Toronto

Located in the heart of Yorkville, our IV Lounge has been treating patients since 2012. We are inside the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre and offer patients vitamin IV therapy, allopathic medicine, herbal remedies, holistic nutrition, psychotherapy, acupuncture, and other modalities. All of our therapies, including IV therapy treatments, are adapted with the principles of integrative functional medicine. 

When combined with various functional therapies and a healthy lifestyle, a custom-made IV drip can help promote wellness upgrades. Our IV therapy providers can prescribe intravenous infusion drips with a wide range of nutrients, including vitamin C, glutathione, vitamin B6, phosphatidylcholine, glutamic acid, and more. Doses of nutrients are personalized for your biology only – your IV drip will never be the same as another patient’s! Our IV drips are prescribed for supportive measures only, especially to help with general wellness, skin health, sports-related daily activities (i.e. physical exertions), immune health, and disease prevention. 

IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre is now available for new patients! Naturally upgrade your energy levels, sports performance, and cognitive function with a tailored drip – request your first session here. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“Acetylcholine (Ach)” from the Cleveland Clinic, last reviewed December 20, 2022, viewed on August 11, 2024. 

Elsawy, G., Abdelrahman, O., & Hamza, A. (2014). Effect of Choline Supplementation on Rapid Weight Loss and Biochemical Variables Among Female Taekwondo and Judo Athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics, 40, 77-82. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0009

Mun JG, Legette LL, Ikonte CJ, Mitmesser SH. Choline and DHA in Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Synergistic Implications in Brain and Eye Health. Nutrients. 2019 May 21;11(5):1125. doi: 10.3390/nu11051125. PMID: 31117180; PMCID: PMC6566660.

Palmer, M., Curran, J., & Bowler, P. (2006). Clinical experience and safety using phosphatidylcholine injections for the localized reduction of subcutaneous fat: A multicentre, retrospective UK study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 5(3), 218-226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2006.00257.x

Rittes PG. The use of phosphatidylcholine for correction of localized fat deposits. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2003 Jul-Aug;27(4):315-8. doi: 10.1007/s00266-003-3033-y. PMID: 15058557.

Reeds DN, Mohammed BS, Klein S, Boswell CB, Young VL. Metabolic and structural effects of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate injections on subcutaneous fat: a randomized, controlled trial. Aesthet Surg J. 2013 Mar;33(3):400-8. doi: 10.1177/1090820X13478630. Epub 2013 Feb 25. PMID: 23439063; PMCID: PMC3667691.

Shaw GM, Finnell RH, Blom HJ, Carmichael SL, Vollset SE, Yang W, Ueland PM. Choline and risk of neural tube defects in a folate-fortified population. Epidemiology. 2009 Sep;20(5):714-9. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181ac9fe7. PMID: 19593156.

Stremmel W, Hanemann A, Ehehalt R, Karner M, Braun A. Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and the mucus layer: Evidence of therapeutic efficacy in ulcerative colitis? Dig Dis. 2010;28(3):490-6. doi: 10.1159/000320407. Epub 2010 Sep 30. PMID: 20926877.

Whiley, L., Sen, A., Heaton, J., Proitsi, P., García-Gómez, D., Leung, R., Smith, N., Thambisetty, M., Kloszewska, I., Mecocci, P., Soininen, H., Tsolaki, M., Vellas, B., Lovestone, S., & Legido-Quigley, C. (2014). Evidence of altered phosphatidylcholine metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 35(2), 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.08.001

Van der Veen, J. N., Kennelly, J. P., Wan, S., Vance, J. E., Vance, D. E., & Jacobs, R. L. (2017). The critical role of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism in health and disease. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Biomembranes, 1859(9), 1558-1572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.04.006

Zeisel, S. H. (2009). Choline: An Essential Nutrient for Public Health. Nutrition Reviews, 67(11), 615. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x

Zhu J, Wu Y, Tang Q, Leng Y, Cai W. The effects of choline on hepatic lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function and antioxidative status in human hepatic C3A cells exposed to excessive energy substrates. Nutrients. 2014 Jul 9;6(7):2552-71. doi: 10.3390/nu6072552. PMID: 25010553; PMCID: PMC4113756.