Sunflower Lecithin

Overview

Sunflower lecithin provides choline for phosphatidylcholine synthesis, offering a soy-free alternative for those avoiding soy. Vegans should ensure adequate choline intake (e.g., soy or sunflower lecithin, soy foods, quinoa, broccoli) to support phosphatidylcholine synthesis and downstream LPC-DHA transport for brain delivery.

Recipes

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Substances

2 substances in this food

Choline

Acetylcholine precursor; methyl donor; phospholipid synthesis for membranes

Phosphatidylcholine (PC)

Key brain phospholipid; carrier for DHA/EPA and acetylcholine precursor pathway

Preparation Notes

• Available as supplement
• Soy-free alternative to soy lecithin
• Important for vegan choline intake
• Supports phospholipid-bound omega-3 strategy

Biological Target Matrix

Biological Target	Substance	Therapeutic Areas	Mechanism of Action
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD	Precursor for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis; PE can be converted into PC or N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs); NAPEs are precursors to N-acyl ethanolamines (NAEs) like palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and anandamide (AEA), bioactive lipids which act as neuromodulators with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and mood-regulating effects
Methylation	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease	Precursor to trimethylglycine (TMG/betaine), a dietary methyl donor that helps recycle homocysteine to methionine via an alternative pathway; supports one-carbon metabolism alongside folate, riboflavin, and B12; influences methylation dynamics relevant to MTHFR and COMT activity
Neurochemical Balance	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease, Bipolar Disorder	Essential precursor for acetylcholine synthesis, supporting memory, learning, and neuroplasticity; supports membrane phospholipid biosynthesis (PC) which is critical for membrane fluidity and neurotransmitter receptor function; phospholipid methylation (PLM) alters membrane structure, facilitating faster neuronal recovery and influencing ion channel behavior in gamma oscillations linked to attention and cognition
Neurochemical Balance	Phosphatidylcholine (PC)	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease, Bipolar Disorder	Major neuronal membrane phospholipid central to membrane fluidity, receptor function, and acetylcholine synthesis; DHA/EPA incorporated into PC are converted to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a key transport form across the BBB

References

• Vegans should ensure adequate choline intake (e.g., soy or sunflower lecithin, soy foods, quinoa, broccoli) to support phosphatidylcholine synthesis and downstream LPC-DHA transport for brain delivery