Lipotropic Factors

Definition:

Lipotropic factors are compounds that help prevent or reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver by promoting the export of fat as lipoproteins.

Examples with real data:

  • Choline – acts as a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, essential for VLDL formation.

  • Methionine – provides methyl groups for choline synthesis.

  • Betaine – methyl donor in homocysteine to methionine conversion.

  • Inositol – involved in phospholipid synthesis for lipid transport.

Clinical relevance (real data example):
In choline-deficient diets in humans, fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) develops within 3-4 weeks, showing the importance of lipotropic factors in normal liver fat metabolism.

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