Experimental Atherosclerosis and Soya Lecithin.

Effects of lipotropic substances on the cholesterol content of the serum of rats

“…To test this hypothesis Steiner & Domanski (1944) added 'soya lecithin' (25 g. daily) to the hospital diet of eight patients; in every case a decrease occurred in the level of serum cholesterol. Others have noted a similar decrease when 'soya lecithin' was added to the diet (in patients with xanthomatosis, Gross & Kesten (1943) and Adlersberg & Sobotka (1943); Kesten & Silbowitz (1942) found that the feeding of 'soya lecithin' inhibited the hypercholesterolaemia usually observed in rabbits fed diets rich in cholesterol). The soybean product sold under the trade name of 'soya lecithin' contains only about 20 % of lecithin; its residual composition in approximate percentage, is 'cephalins' 20, oily glycerides 30, carbohydrates 10, inositol-containing complexes 15, and phytosterols 2, which is obviously a very different mixture from the egg-yolk and adrenal lecithin fed by the workers previously mentioned, who observed the opposite effect.…”

Pressure Gradients in the Atria and Pulmonary Veins in Man

“…The leff ect of 4-amin0-N~~methyl-PGA in prolonging the survival time of mice with transplanted leukemia AK4 can be blocked almost completely by prior administration of 1/3 ,to 2/3 as much by dry weight of a preparation of citrovorum factor. This view was not expressed by Little and associates (4). Careful analysis of the pressure records obtained from 'the pulmonary veins and chambers of the heart was carried out on 4 noncyanotic persons sellected because of their varying anatomic and physiologic defects.…”

Preliminary Evaluation of a Non‐dietary Regimen for Reducing Cholesterol Levels in the Aged

“…The value of lipotropic substances in geriatric medicine is still controversial. Davidson (1), Moses (2) and associates feel that they offer little or no therapeutic advantages, but Herrmann (3), Kesten (4), Morrison (5, 6) and co‐workers offer both theoretical and clinical evidence of efficacy. Whatever merit these agents may or may not possess, it has been established that manifestations of defective lipid metabolism are widely prevalent in the aged.…”