Lecithin

Lecithin is a mixture of fats that are essential to cells in the human body. It can be found in many foods, including soybeans and egg yolks. In the diet, lecithin is the main source of choline, a nutrient similar to the B vitamins. Lecithin is converted into acetylcholine, a substance that transmits nerve impulses. The body uses lecithin in the metabolic process and to move fats. Lecithins turn into choline in the body. They help make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Lecithin is commonly used as a food additive to combine foods. Lecithin is a naturally occurring fatty substance referred to as phospholipid. Although the term lecithin is sometimes used generically to refer to a wide variety of lipids (including choline and glycine), it is most commonly associated with phosphatidylcholine, a precursor for choline.