Current view of the yesterday's medicine (review)

Abstract

Phospholipids (PL) – lipids that are not involved in accumulation of fatty deposits play a significant role and serve various functions. Firstly, as a component of cell membranes of all cells in the organism. In clinical practice, for the past decades, phospholipids were primarily used as hepaprotective substances, going by the name of “essential phospholipids (EPL)”. Becoming a popular, demanded, well-promoted remedy for the treatment of liver diseases. However, despite the many years of approbation, the existing and sufficientclinicalexperience, discussions regarding their benefits, effectiveness, safety and reliability are still underway and have brought up diametrically opposed views. From complete rejection of EPL as medicinal means, to full recognition of the advertised properties of EPL drugs based on the given manufacturer’s descriptions. For this reason, to clarify the issuing situation, we have conducted a literature search on the object of investigation. Purpose of the study. Search and critical analysis of modern literature sources on the topic of work using the principles of evidence-based medicine. Material and Methods. A critical online review of the literature sources chosen for the research has been carried out in the Web of Science Thompson Reuters, Springer Link and Pubmed databases, as well as in research works and online articles 10 years deep. Inclusion criteria: research papers with a high index of evidence base. Exclusion criteria: literature sources with no evidence, low quality works. Results and Discussion. The articleoutlines the natural role of proteins, lipids and the function of the cytolemma of intracellularorganoids in the restoration of damaged membranes of hepatocytes - de novo. Substantiating the obvious uselessness of using essential phospholipids in the treatment of liver diseases in general, fatty hepatosis in particular. The inability of penetration into liver cells for phospholipids in their native form and their alignment in thehepacyte membrane is indicated, since they belong to different biological species and have a mutually closed genetic system. In the literature search undertaken by us on this issue, the analytical and critical review of scientific literature have also shown that when ingested, essential phospholipids have low bioavailability, as the phospholipids in the chylomicrons do not directly enter the liver, but first the lymphatic system through which they are transported to the adipose tissue of the organism, where they are accumulated and metabolized. With parenteral administration, EPL spreading through the bloodstream can accumulate in other organs, systems, without reaching the liver tissue. For example, the largest amounts of EPL are usually found in the cell membranes of the nervous tissue and the brain. Conclusion. Essential phospholipids in the form of soy lecithin products cannot replace the endogenous phospholipids of the human body - in principle. Keywords: essentialphospholipids, liver cell membranes, hepaprotectors.