Background

• Phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant of the phospholipids, a class of specialized fat molecules, in plant and animal cells. Phosphatidylcholine is a key building block of cell membranes (the lining around each cell). It is also a precursor of acetylcholine, a compound required for normal brain activity.
• Although phosphatidylcholine is present in almost all cells in the body, the highest concentrations may be found in the brain, heart, liver, and kidney. Liver, egg yolk, and peanuts are rich sources of dietary phosphatidylcholine.
• For human health, phosphatidylcholine is most commonly used to treat liver conditions. There is some evidence of benefit in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and drug-induced high blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Injectable phosphatidylcholine has been used as an alternative to liposuction to break down localized fat deposits.

References

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