American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 8, 337-339, Copyright © 1960 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Effect of Soybean Phosphatides on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins

¹ From the Montefiore Hospital, New York, New York

In vitro studies have shown that the alcohol insoluble inositol phosphatide (lipositol) fraction of soybean phosphatide complex produces an increase in the electrophoretic migration velocity of serum lipoproteins, while the alcohol soluble lecithin fraction is without effect. Lipositol isolated from the alcohol insoluble fraction was found to be the compound responsible for the observed effects. The in vitro effects were confirmed in vivo by the intravenous administration of lipositol fraction to normal rabbits. In the normal rabbit, the "lipoprotein shift" is accompanied by a prompt and profound mobilization of neutral fat and cholesterol to the blood stream. Oral administration of this fraction to patients failed to result in similar changes in serum lipoproteins but in half of those studied, significant falls in serum cholesterol levels were observed.