[Biliary lipids and the cholesterol saturation rate in relation to lecithin administration by oral route]

Lecithin is, at present, a contradictory drug to increase the solubility degree of bile cholesterol. Our main purpose in this work was to study the lipidic bile composition of gallstone patients under lecithin treatment, in order to value its action on biliary lipids and cholesterol saturation rate. Men and women with gallstones and radiologically functioning gallbladder were included. They were divided into 2 groups: "A", including 12 patients and "B", 13. In both groups, percentage values of cholesterol, phospholipids, total bile acids and cholesterol saturation rate were determined, before and after the administration of lecithin, everyday during a period of 30 years, 8 grams on group "A" and 2 grams placebo, on group "B". No significant differences were found in the studied samples. Before and after the administration of 8 grams of lecithin orally. Total bile acids: 67--78 +/- 4,42, 72,07 +/- 4,61 p greater than 0,05; cholesterol; 15,88 +/- 2,29, 1689 +/- 2,87 p greater than 0,05; phospholipids 16,25 +/- 3,10, 12,04 +/- 2,29 p greater than 0,05; cholesterol saturation rate; 1,70 +/- 0,24, 2,10 +/- 0,36 p greater than 0,05. It is concluded that lecithin orally administered on patients with the established characteristics and diet and the used methodology results in a useless treatment to increase the solubility of bile cholesterol.