Cellular building blocks and original active ingredients
Phospholipids are known to be the basic building blocks of cellular membranes. Through their diversity and repartition, they are also essential actors of the regulation of the membrane functions.
They are also the physiological carriers of some nutrients they carry across barriers like the intestinal barrier for choline, or the blood-brain barrier for polyunsaturated fatty acids and especially DHA.
Since their first description as emulsifiers, the scientific studies have progressively revealed that phospholipids are directly involved in essential physiological functions. This position as cellular building blocks and carriers allows phospholipids to enter in specific metabolic pathways, often different and complementary to those involved with other active ingredients. Some food supplement formulations take advantage of the most well-known activities of phospholipids, but opportunities still exist based on properties which are less often cited.
The most current health applications of phospholipids
Despite phospholipids can be synthesized by our organism, it is known that the food supply is essential. Deoiled lecithin in granules is the simplest way to supply phospholipids and is well-known since a long time as a dietetic product.
Food supplements also take advantage of the activities of phospholipids by formulating concentrated purified fractions containing a specific phospholipid species. These activities have been described in detail in the previous issues of the A to Z Guide (see issues 2014 to 2016).
Phosphatidylcholine was the first among the phospholipids to be described in detail by chemists, and it is still closely associated to lecithin for its emulsifying properties. It is responsible for the hypotriglyceridemic and hypocholesterolemic activities linked to the regular consumption of granulated lecithin.
Phosphatidylcholine is also the most efficient carrier of choline, indispensable to the metabolism of liver and kidneys for which it represents the only available storage form.
Phosphatidylserine has a typical animal origin, and is particularly concentrated in the brain which contains half of the phosphatidylserine present in the body.
This brain content decreases during aging while the cerebral performances are also altered. This decrease can be compensated by a food supply which will also slow down the alteration of the cognitive performances.
A food supply in phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine at the same time helps in stress management, decreasing its intensity without totally inhibiting it. Stress is a normal and positive biological reaction, as long as it remains under control.
The influence of the blend of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine had been evaluated with reference to salivary cortisol and circulating ACTH levels, two recognized markers related to stress intensity.
New development opportunities
Manor et al. have realized a study in 2012 during 15 weeks on 200 hyperactive children showing attention disorders, a trouble known as ADHD for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A supply of phosphatidylserine and omega-3 fatty acids improved the behaviour of the children who received it compared to a placebo.
Hirayama et al (2013) have then shown that a daily food supply of 200 mg phosphatidylserine alone also improves the symptoms of ADHD in children aged 4 to 14 years.
The potential applications of phospholipids in sports nutrition are already well documented but not yet fully valorised.
Scientific studies have shown that both phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine are consumed during a long-lasting effort, leading to a fall of their blood content. This decrease can be prevented by a food supply during the weeks before a competition.
To maintain a normal level of phosphatidylcholine allows a constant supply in choline to the muscle during an effort. It also decreases the production of lactic acid and prevents the apparition of cramps. The impact of such a supplementation on the recovery step is even more important when the fatty acid DHA is provided linked to phosphatidylcholine, allowing a better muscle oxygen supply.
A food supply of phosphatidylserine, which blood content also decrease after a long effort, leads to an improved stamina, a better recovery and to better psychologic parameters like concentration and reaction time in sportsmen.