Lecithin increases plasma free choline and decreases hepatic steatosis in long-term total parenteral nutrition patients.

Plasma-free choline levels have previously been found below normal in patients receiving long term parenteral nutrition (TPN). In a group of 15 patients receiving home TPN who had low plasma free choline levels (6.3 +/- 0.8 mmol/L), we found 50% had hepatic steatosis. These patients were given oral lecithin or placebo in a double-blind randomized trial for 6 weeks. Lecithin supplementation led to an increase in plasma free choline of 53.4% +/- 15.4% at 2 weeks (P = 0.04), which continued at 6 weeks. The placebo group had no change in plasma-free choline at 2 weeks, but a significant decrease of 25.4% +/- 7.1% (P = 0.01) at 6 weeks. A significant and progressive decrease in hepatic fat was indicated by increased liver-spleen CT Hounsfield units at 2 and 6 weeks (7.5 +/- 1.7 units, P = 0.02; 13.8 +/- 3.5 units, P = 0.03) in the lecithin supplemental group. Nonsignificant changes were seen in the placebo group. It was concluded that hepatic steatosis in many patients receiving long term TPN is caused by plasma-free choline deficiency and may be reversed with lecithin supplementation. Choline is a conditionally essential nutrient in this population.