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Lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment
Higgins JP, Flicker L.. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Alzheimer's disease sufferers have been found to have a lack of the enzyme responsible for converting choline into acetylcholine within the brain. Lecithin is a major dietary source of choline, so extra consumption may reduce the progression of dementia. Objectives To determine the efficacy of lecithin in the treatment of dementia or cognitive impairment. Search strategy The Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Group Register of Clinical Trials has been searched, as have the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Psychlit, ISI and Current Contents. Reference lists and relevant books have been examined. Selection criteria All unconfounded, randomized trials comparing lecithin with placebo in a treatment period longer than one day, in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type, vascular dementia, mixed vascular and Alzheimer's disease, unclassified or other dementia or unclassified cognitive impairment not fulfilling the criteria for dementia are eligible for inclusion. Data collection and analysis Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and cross-checked. Meta-analyses were performed when more than one trial provided data on a comparable outcome on sufficiently similar patients. Random effects analyses were performed whenever heterogeneity between results appeared to be present. Standardised mean difference were used due do the use of different scales and periods of treatment. Odds ratios for dichotomous data were pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel or DerSimonian and Laird methods. Main results Twelve randomized trials have been identified involving patients with Alzheimer's disease (265 patients), Parkinsonian dementia (21 patients) and subjective memory problems (90 patients). No trials reported any clear clinical benefit of lecithin for Alzheimer's disease or Parkinsonian dementia. Few trials contributed data to meta-analyses. The only statistically significant result was in favour of placebo for adverse events, based on one trial, which appears likely to be a spurious result. A dramatic result in favour of lecithin was obtained in a trial of subjects with subjective memory problems. Reviewer's conclusions Evidence from randomized trials does not support the use of lecithin in the treatment of patients with dementia. A moderate effect cannot be ruled out, but results from the small trials to date do not indicate priority for a large randomized trial.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Higgins, J. P., & Flicker, L. (2000). Lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001015
Vancouver
Higgins JP, Flicker L. Lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2000. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd001015. PMID: 11034695.
BibTeX
@article{higgins2000-11034695,
author = {Higgins, J. P. and Flicker, L.},
title = {{Lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment}},
journal = {The Cochrane database of systematic reviews},
year = {2000},
doi = {10.1002/14651858.cd001015},
pmid = {11034695},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001015}
}
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Key findings
- Random effects analyses were performed whenever heterogeneity between results appeared to be present.
- Main results Twelve randomized trials have been identified involving patients with Alzheimer's disease (265 patients), Parkinsonian dementia (21 patients) and subjective memory problems (90 patients).
- The only statistically significant result was in favour of placebo for adverse events, based on one trial, which appears likely to be a spurious result.
- A dramatic result in favour of lecithin was obtained in a trial of subjects with subjective memory problems.
- A moderate effect cannot be ruled out, but results from the small trials to date do not indicate priority for a large randomized trial.
Why it matters
This review of 12 randomized trials of lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment found no clear benefit; the only statistically significant result favored placebo for adverse events. The authors note that a dramatic result in favor of lecithin was not supported by the overall evidence.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants265
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (The Cochrane database of systematic reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: journal h-index 468 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2000 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 265 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 116 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.1 citations a year over 28 year(s) since 2000 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Leon A Flicker: h-index 93 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Western Australia: institution h-index 1,026 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 11034695) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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