Phospholipid Therapy
Every cell and all the internal cell structures – the machines that make energy and participate in the production of molecules to repair damage and control cell division – are made of fats. In fact, all cellular membranes are made of a double layer of fatty acids into which are embedded various proteins. These proteins function as ion channels, hormone receptors, nutrient transport structures, in neurotransmission function and contribute to the integrity of the cell membranes themselves. Along with phospholipids, all membranes of our cells also need high levels of long chain omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. These are vital components of the lipid bilayer. The diagram below is a representation of the lipid bilayer of all cellular membranes. Note the proteins embedded in the membrane.
The bottom line is that if we don't have the proper fats in our membranes, they don't function properly. Imagine trying to build a masonry building with misshapen or crumbling bricks. The windows and doors wouldn't set properly and the building might start to fall apart.
Structure begets function in all living and nonliving systems. This is particularly important in the case of mitochondrial function. These membranous structures are found in every cell and produce about 90% of the body's energy needs. This energy is required for all processes – movement, thinking, immune defense, repair and healing, digestion, detoxification, etc. Phospholipids are high energy compounds that can be used for both structural purposes and ATP (the universal energy of life) production. The cofactors required to operate the energy production machinery include all of the B vitamins, all of the essential minerals, cofactors such as carnitine and coenzyme Q10 and a number of endocrine hormones (T3 from the thyroid, cortisol and sex steroids in particular). The content of these membranes determines their fluidity- their ability to hold proteins in position to ensure their efficient function. In particular, the cholesterol component of membranes give them their needed stiffness and the phospholipids their required fluidity. Fats matter to health. It is necessary to have the correct components of cell membranes to have maximum health.
History of Phospholipids
We owe a lot to the work of the German scientist Karl-Josef Gundermann, PhD. For people interested in a more detailed understanding of the chemistry of clinical importance of phospholipids, I will summarize the 1993 monograph of Dr. Gundermann on the subject.
In 1939, Hans Eikermann extracted a purified phosphatidylcholine (PC) from soya oil. Note: This product is so purified that it contains no goitrogens (antithyroid substances) such as can be found in soy products. What has become known as EPL (Essential Phospholipids) and its highly purified derivative DLPC (1,2 diindoyl phosphatidylcholine), is of importance to all diseases underpinned by membrane damage - that is, all diseases. DLPC is present in only trace quantities in the body, may substitute endogenous phospholipids and be incorporated into all lipid membranes thus improving the fluidity of these membranes and thus their proper function.
An eminent biophysicist, Garth Nicholson PhD, has published a number of clinical trials and reviews on the micro anatomy and function of the cell membrane. His 1972 model of the cell membrane with some modifications, is still considered an accurate and profound description of the very ultra-structure of our cells and their component organelles. Dr. Nicholson got interested in Gulf War syndrome and realized it results from mitochondrial failure. He classified this syndrome as a variant of the chronic fatigue/encephalomyelitis syndrome. Later he did clinical trials with a phospholipid extract along with vitamins, minerals and certain herbal medicines and accessory nutritional factors such as coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine. In every study the patient’s fatigue improved. These were patients with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue associated with aging, chronic illness and even fatigue associated with cancer chemotherapy. Most of these patients had undergone standard therapies including a multitude of pharmaceutical agents which had failed to relieve their symptoms. Our clinic has seen improvements in diseases ranging from skin disorders to dementia.
PC is the predominant phospholipid in our cells and ranges from 33% of the phospholipids in the kidneys to 46.5% in the lungs.
Over the past decades, a German company, Nattermann GmBH has purified the most important of these phospholipids from plant sources. They have developed a 100% purified fraction of PC (DLPC). This material has up to 30 times more of the primary active ingredient than any other oral PC complex. More than 1000 scientific studies have documented its effectiveness and mechanisms of action. DLPC is the best studied and is available both as an oral liquid, capsule and solution for intravenous infusion. The name of the substance we use is PhosChol, or PPC, and we will use this name throughout the rest of the article.
The benefits of phospholipids by system
Brain/Neurological conditions: Improvement in memory, reduced headaches, reduced dizziness, improved concentration, better sleep, improved cerebral circulation, improved brain antioxidant system. This treatment has also been shown to improve Alzheimer's disease, mania and multiple sclerosis, increases activity of the anti-oxidative enzymes: cytoplasmic Cu-Zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in some brain areas. PPC also acts as a donator of choline in the brain. Choline is then made into the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This transmitter binds to a variety of neurons and causes them to fire. In particular, it is very important in memory storage. Acetylcholine producing cells are damaged in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Lung: PPC regulates the surface tension of the alveoli in the lungs to prevent their collapse. It also supports the function of the tiny cilia in our lungs. Cilia constantly sweep out particles and bacteria to keep the lungs clear to receive and transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood respectively. PPC are components of surfactant in the lungs. Their employment has been successfully used in shock lung in premature babies, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation) in various settings.
Heart: Specifically atherosclerosis/cardiovascular disease, PPC reduces both triglycerides and total cholesterol, improves HDL level, decreases lipid peroxidation, reduces aggregation of platelets, improvement in "reverse cholesterol transport", reduction in angina pectoris, reduction in plaque size in diseased vessels, improvement in EKG waves and increase in both pain-free walking time and blood flow to the lower extremities measured with Doppler ultrasound and pulse volume recordings.
Liver: In liver diseases PPC has been shown to reduce collagen production, collagen/DNA ratio and liver hydroxy proline indicating a reduced formation of connective tissue which is the basis of scarring and cirrhosis of the liver. Hepatitis, fatty liver, alcoholic cirrhosis, sluggish bile (which leads to stone formation) and liver toxicity caused by drugs, can all benefit from PPC.
Kidney: In disorders of the kidneys, improvement in BUN and creatinine in patients with various kidney diseases, reduction in blood pressure in patients with nephro-sclerosis, reversal of nephrotic syndrome in children and improvement in various functions of patients on dialysis for kidney failure.
Gastrointestinal: Another important function of phospholipids is their function as bile components. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It is released into the small intestine to emulsify fatty substances including fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K). Bile components, including derivatives of PPC change the surface characteristics of dietary fats and thus make them susceptible to digestion and absorption into the blood and lymph vessels. PPC have surfactant functions that protect the stomach lining from its high acid content and prevent the peritoneal membranes of the intestines from forming adhesions. PPC also can mitigate the damage to the gastric mucosa and ulcerations caused by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen.
Skin diseases: Psoriasis, neuro dermatitis and seborrheic eczema have all improved with the use of PPC. In some patients, serum levels of phospholipid/cholesterol ratio in their membranes was normalized.
Disorders of pregnancy: Preeclampsia, toxemia of pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum (nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy), and even late complications of pregnancy with fetal distress have responded to essential phospholipids. The penetration of these lipids through the placenta and their utilization by the fetus were increased thus promoting fetal health.
Phospholipids on a cellular level
There is a constant turnover of membrane components. This is important because, like all molecules, the fatty acids in membranes are subject to free radical damage. So, in order to have healthy membranes there must be the right kind of fats constructing them AND they must not be oxidized (damaged). If either the wrong fats or oxidized fats are present above a certain small level, membranes and their embedded proteins and enzymes don't function properly. This then results in ill health – the diseases of aging.
The functional importance of phospholipids like PPC cover the entirety of biological events that keep us alive and healthy. It is the combination of unsaturated fatty acids along with the presence of phosphorylcholine on the glycerol skeleton that gives a healthy cell membrane it's precise fluidity that then allows for the proper exchange of information and materials across the surface of cells. This concept can also be applied to the function of the membranes of the cellular organelles- the nuclear membrane, the Golgi apparatus and various vesicles that recycle damaged proteins as well as membrane transport structures. PPC also acts as instantly available hormones known as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These molecules regulate numerous activities including the signaling between the various cells of the immune system. Many drugs work through manipulation of the phospholipid derived prostanoid hormones. It is our belief that treating high blood pressure and pain, as examples, are more safely accomplished by ensuring a balanced, available supply of fatty acids contained in the membrane phospholipids. PPC comprises about 30% of the phospholipid component of red blood cell membranes and as such gives them their fluidity and ability to deform themselves and thus squeeze down the capillaries to deliver oxygen to every cell in the body. The proper ratios of lipids in the RBC membranes also prevents them from rupturing (hemolysis) in the course of their travel through the circulatory system. PPC inhibits the aggregability of blood platelets by suppressing lipid peroxidation products. Therefore, this reduces the possibility of blood clot formation. The white blood cell’s function also depends on the phospholipid content of their membranes.
It is understandable why utilizing PPC has been successful in such a variety of conditions: it corrects a fundamental defect in the biological system of all cells - the health, and thus function of the cell’s membrane structure. As stated before: poor structure = poor function.
Another name for the treatment with PPC is “Lipid Replacement Therapy.” Think of it as a way of replacing and repairing all of your membrane lipid bilayers, including those of your brain cells.
Molecular and Biophysical Details:
Along with alpha lipoic acid, PPC has been shown to save the lives of patients with deadly Amanita mushroom poisoning. As with snake venom, this demonstrates the potential of the substance to help detoxify extremely dangerous compounds. This has also been shown to be the case with poisonings of organophosphate pesticides, various drugs and aromatic hydrocarbons and cleaning fluids.
In all studies thus far, tolerance for PPC therapy was universal with fewer than 1% of patients having to discontinue the medication because of side effects. The side effects were generally gastrointestinal and disappeared when the medicine was stopped and gradually restarted. Allergies to this material are extremely rare. I believe phospholipids, and in particular PPC, which is the highly purified DLPC, to be a vital component of healing a myriad of diseases. Of course, one must continue to modify their diet and lifestyle, replace the essential vitamin and mineral substances that lack in the standard American diet, reduce environmental reactivity through immunotherapy, detoxify with both sauna and chelation therapy and have a spiritual practice to balance the autonomic nervous system. But this substance is the icing on the cake to regain and maintain health – balancing the total load.
Waters Center offers both oral and IV PPC and prescribes on an individual basis. As an oral supplement, it can be taken daily indefinitely as part of your overall health program. PPC is given by IV is usually once or twice per week for 12-15 treatments and then a possible maintenance program.
The bottom line is that if we don't have the proper fats in our membranes, they don't function properly. Imagine trying to build a masonry building with misshapen or crumbling bricks. The windows and doors wouldn't set properly and the building might start to fall apart.
Structure begets function in all living and nonliving systems. This is particularly important in the case of mitochondrial function. These membranous structures are found in every cell and produce about 90% of the body's energy needs. This energy is required for all processes – movement, thinking, immune defense, repair and healing, digestion, detoxification, etc. Phospholipids are high energy compounds that can be used for both structural purposes and ATP (the universal energy of life) production. The cofactors required to operate the energy production machinery include all of the B vitamins, all of the essential minerals, cofactors such as carnitine and coenzyme Q10 and a number of endocrine hormones (T3 from the thyroid, cortisol and sex steroids in particular). The content of these membranes determines their fluidity- their ability to hold proteins in position to ensure their efficient function. In particular, the cholesterol component of membranes give them their needed stiffness and the phospholipids their required fluidity. Fats matter to health. It is necessary to have the correct components of cell membranes to have maximum health.
History of Phospholipids
We owe a lot to the work of the German scientist Karl-Josef Gundermann, PhD. For people interested in a more detailed understanding of the chemistry of clinical importance of phospholipids, I will summarize the 1993 monograph of Dr. Gundermann on the subject.
In 1939, Hans Eikermann extracted a purified phosphatidylcholine (PC) from soya oil. Note: This product is so purified that it contains no goitrogens (antithyroid substances) such as can be found in soy products. What has become known as EPL (Essential Phospholipids) and its highly purified derivative DLPC (1,2 diindoyl phosphatidylcholine), is of importance to all diseases underpinned by membrane damage - that is, all diseases. DLPC is present in only trace quantities in the body, may substitute endogenous phospholipids and be incorporated into all lipid membranes thus improving the fluidity of these membranes and thus their proper function.
An eminent biophysicist, Garth Nicholson PhD, has published a number of clinical trials and reviews on the micro anatomy and function of the cell membrane. His 1972 model of the cell membrane with some modifications, is still considered an accurate and profound description of the very ultra-structure of our cells and their component organelles. Dr. Nicholson got interested in Gulf War syndrome and realized it results from mitochondrial failure. He classified this syndrome as a variant of the chronic fatigue/encephalomyelitis syndrome. Later he did clinical trials with a phospholipid extract along with vitamins, minerals and certain herbal medicines and accessory nutritional factors such as coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine. In every study the patient’s fatigue improved. These were patients with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue associated with aging, chronic illness and even fatigue associated with cancer chemotherapy. Most of these patients had undergone standard therapies including a multitude of pharmaceutical agents which had failed to relieve their symptoms. Our clinic has seen improvements in diseases ranging from skin disorders to dementia.
PC is the predominant phospholipid in our cells and ranges from 33% of the phospholipids in the kidneys to 46.5% in the lungs.
Over the past decades, a German company, Nattermann GmBH has purified the most important of these phospholipids from plant sources. They have developed a 100% purified fraction of PC (DLPC). This material has up to 30 times more of the primary active ingredient than any other oral PC complex. More than 1000 scientific studies have documented its effectiveness and mechanisms of action. DLPC is the best studied and is available both as an oral liquid, capsule and solution for intravenous infusion. The name of the substance we use is PhosChol, or PPC, and we will use this name throughout the rest of the article.
The benefits of phospholipids by system
Brain/Neurological conditions: Improvement in memory, reduced headaches, reduced dizziness, improved concentration, better sleep, improved cerebral circulation, improved brain antioxidant system. This treatment has also been shown to improve Alzheimer's disease, mania and multiple sclerosis, increases activity of the anti-oxidative enzymes: cytoplasmic Cu-Zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in some brain areas. PPC also acts as a donator of choline in the brain. Choline is then made into the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This transmitter binds to a variety of neurons and causes them to fire. In particular, it is very important in memory storage. Acetylcholine producing cells are damaged in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Lung: PPC regulates the surface tension of the alveoli in the lungs to prevent their collapse. It also supports the function of the tiny cilia in our lungs. Cilia constantly sweep out particles and bacteria to keep the lungs clear to receive and transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood respectively. PPC are components of surfactant in the lungs. Their employment has been successfully used in shock lung in premature babies, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation) in various settings.
Heart: Specifically atherosclerosis/cardiovascular disease, PPC reduces both triglycerides and total cholesterol, improves HDL level, decreases lipid peroxidation, reduces aggregation of platelets, improvement in "reverse cholesterol transport", reduction in angina pectoris, reduction in plaque size in diseased vessels, improvement in EKG waves and increase in both pain-free walking time and blood flow to the lower extremities measured with Doppler ultrasound and pulse volume recordings.
Liver: In liver diseases PPC has been shown to reduce collagen production, collagen/DNA ratio and liver hydroxy proline indicating a reduced formation of connective tissue which is the basis of scarring and cirrhosis of the liver. Hepatitis, fatty liver, alcoholic cirrhosis, sluggish bile (which leads to stone formation) and liver toxicity caused by drugs, can all benefit from PPC.
Kidney: In disorders of the kidneys, improvement in BUN and creatinine in patients with various kidney diseases, reduction in blood pressure in patients with nephro-sclerosis, reversal of nephrotic syndrome in children and improvement in various functions of patients on dialysis for kidney failure.
Gastrointestinal: Another important function of phospholipids is their function as bile components. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It is released into the small intestine to emulsify fatty substances including fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K). Bile components, including derivatives of PPC change the surface characteristics of dietary fats and thus make them susceptible to digestion and absorption into the blood and lymph vessels. PPC have surfactant functions that protect the stomach lining from its high acid content and prevent the peritoneal membranes of the intestines from forming adhesions. PPC also can mitigate the damage to the gastric mucosa and ulcerations caused by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen.
Skin diseases: Psoriasis, neuro dermatitis and seborrheic eczema have all improved with the use of PPC. In some patients, serum levels of phospholipid/cholesterol ratio in their membranes was normalized.
Disorders of pregnancy: Preeclampsia, toxemia of pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum (nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy), and even late complications of pregnancy with fetal distress have responded to essential phospholipids. The penetration of these lipids through the placenta and their utilization by the fetus were increased thus promoting fetal health.
Phospholipids on a cellular level
There is a constant turnover of membrane components. This is important because, like all molecules, the fatty acids in membranes are subject to free radical damage. So, in order to have healthy membranes there must be the right kind of fats constructing them AND they must not be oxidized (damaged). If either the wrong fats or oxidized fats are present above a certain small level, membranes and their embedded proteins and enzymes don't function properly. This then results in ill health – the diseases of aging.
The functional importance of phospholipids like PPC cover the entirety of biological events that keep us alive and healthy. It is the combination of unsaturated fatty acids along with the presence of phosphorylcholine on the glycerol skeleton that gives a healthy cell membrane it's precise fluidity that then allows for the proper exchange of information and materials across the surface of cells. This concept can also be applied to the function of the membranes of the cellular organelles- the nuclear membrane, the Golgi apparatus and various vesicles that recycle damaged proteins as well as membrane transport structures. PPC also acts as instantly available hormones known as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These molecules regulate numerous activities including the signaling between the various cells of the immune system. Many drugs work through manipulation of the phospholipid derived prostanoid hormones. It is our belief that treating high blood pressure and pain, as examples, are more safely accomplished by ensuring a balanced, available supply of fatty acids contained in the membrane phospholipids. PPC comprises about 30% of the phospholipid component of red blood cell membranes and as such gives them their fluidity and ability to deform themselves and thus squeeze down the capillaries to deliver oxygen to every cell in the body. The proper ratios of lipids in the RBC membranes also prevents them from rupturing (hemolysis) in the course of their travel through the circulatory system. PPC inhibits the aggregability of blood platelets by suppressing lipid peroxidation products. Therefore, this reduces the possibility of blood clot formation. The white blood cell’s function also depends on the phospholipid content of their membranes.
It is understandable why utilizing PPC has been successful in such a variety of conditions: it corrects a fundamental defect in the biological system of all cells - the health, and thus function of the cell’s membrane structure. As stated before: poor structure = poor function.
Another name for the treatment with PPC is “Lipid Replacement Therapy.” Think of it as a way of replacing and repairing all of your membrane lipid bilayers, including those of your brain cells.
Molecular and Biophysical Details:
Along with alpha lipoic acid, PPC has been shown to save the lives of patients with deadly Amanita mushroom poisoning. As with snake venom, this demonstrates the potential of the substance to help detoxify extremely dangerous compounds. This has also been shown to be the case with poisonings of organophosphate pesticides, various drugs and aromatic hydrocarbons and cleaning fluids.
In all studies thus far, tolerance for PPC therapy was universal with fewer than 1% of patients having to discontinue the medication because of side effects. The side effects were generally gastrointestinal and disappeared when the medicine was stopped and gradually restarted. Allergies to this material are extremely rare. I believe phospholipids, and in particular PPC, which is the highly purified DLPC, to be a vital component of healing a myriad of diseases. Of course, one must continue to modify their diet and lifestyle, replace the essential vitamin and mineral substances that lack in the standard American diet, reduce environmental reactivity through immunotherapy, detoxify with both sauna and chelation therapy and have a spiritual practice to balance the autonomic nervous system. But this substance is the icing on the cake to regain and maintain health – balancing the total load.
Waters Center offers both oral and IV PPC and prescribes on an individual basis. As an oral supplement, it can be taken daily indefinitely as part of your overall health program. PPC is given by IV is usually once or twice per week for 12-15 treatments and then a possible maintenance program.
