Originally published In Press as doi:10.1194/jlr.M400438-JLR200 on December 1, 2004
Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 46, 350-355, February 2005
Copyright © 2005 by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Phosphatidylinositol increases HDL-C levels in humans
Jim W. Burgess*,
Tracey A-M. Neville*,
,
Patricia Rouillard*,
Zdena Harder
,
Donald S. Beanlands
and
Daniel L. Sparks1,*,
* Liponex, Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2G 3R8
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Y 4W7
Published, JLR Papers in Press, December 1, 2004. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M400438-JLR200
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: dsparks{at}ottawaheart.ca
 |
ABSTRACT
|
|---|
Studies have shown that phosphatidylinositol (PI) can stimulate reverse cholesterol transport by enhancing the flux of cholesterol into HDL and by promoting the transport of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) to the liver and bile. The goal of this study was to determine the safety and therapeutic value of PI after oral administration to normolipidemic human subjects. We performed a randomized 2 week study in 16 normolipidemic subjects. Subjects received either 2.8 or 5.6 g of PI, with or without food. PI was well tolerated by all subjects. PI significantly affected the levels of HDL-C and triglyceride in the plasma of subjects receiving PI with food. The lower dose showed a 13% increase in HDL-C, whereas the high dose showed an increase of 18% over the 2 week period. Both low- and high-dose groups showed significant increases in plasma apolipoprotein A-I. The high dose of PI also decreased plasma triglycerides by 36% in the fed subjects.
These data suggest that after only 2 weeks, PI may have a comparable therapeutic value to niacin, with negligible side effects.
Abbreviations: CAD, coronary artery disease; CETP, cholesteryl ester transfer protein; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; PI, phosphatidylinositol
Supplementary key words high density lipoprotein-cholesterol cholesterol triglycerides HDL elevating agents
 |
INTRODUCTION
|
|---|
Epidemiological studies have established an inverse association between high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and coronary artery disease (CAD) (1). Controlled intervention trials suggest that a 1% increase in HDL-C will correspond to a 3% reduction in CAD event rate (2). Conservative treatment measures (e.g., dietary modification, smoking cessation, aerobic exercise) only increase HDL-C modestly (3), and available agents for increasing HDL-C are currently limited to niacin and the fibrates (4, 5). Unfortunately, although these drugs have been available for decades, their popularity has been limited by the side effects associated with therapeutic dosage regimes. Novel HDL therapeutic strategies are under development, and recent reports suggest that the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, Torcetrapib and JTT-705, may be promising new therapies for increasing HDL-C levels and treating CAD (6, 7). Increasing HDL levels by infusion of HDL or apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) Milano also appears to have direct effects on atherosclerosis in humans (8). Although results with these compounds hold promise, large prospective studies are needed to clarify how different strategies to increase HDL levels may impact the development and progression of CAD.
Studies over the last few decades have suggested that soy lecithin may also affect plasma HDL levels. Prolonged oral administration of soy lecithin at doses ranging from 12 to 48 g per day have resulted in significant reductions in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels (9, 10) and increased HDL-C levels (9). Soy lecithin is a mixture of uncharged (phosphatidylcholine) and anionic [phosphatidylinositol (PI)] polar lipids. Oral administration of purified soy phosphatidylcholine has been shown to significantly decrease low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (11, 12) but to have minimal effect on HDL-C (1214). The contribution of the anionic constituents of soy lecithin has remained unclear.
We have previously reported that soy PI stimulates the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. PI promotes increased efflux of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to HDL and an increased transport and clearance of cholesterol through the liver, bile, and feces (15, 16). Therefore, a prospective study was designed to evaluate the effects of orally administered PI on HDL-C and other cardiovascular risk factors in normolipidemic volunteers. PI is well tolerated and acts rapidly to modify plasma HDL and triglyceride levels when administered with food.
 |
METHODS
|
|---|
Study population
The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Board of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and by Health Canada Therapeutic Products Directorate. The characteristics of the study population are shown in Table 1. The trial cohort consisted of healthy men (n = 10) and women (n = 6) between 25 and 48 years of age. The exclusion criteria were as follows: HDL-C < 1.0 mmol/l and LDL-C > 5.0 mmol/l, known allergies to soy products, body mass index > 30 kg/m2, pregnancy, and use of lipid-lowering drugs. There were no diabetics or smokers in the trial. Alcohol consumption during the trial was light to moderate (zero to six drinks per week). The subjects were asked to maintain their normal dietary and exercise habits throughout the study.
Study design
Baseline (t = 0) values were determined from blood draws after an overnight 12 h fast. Subjects were then randomized to one of four groups. Groups 1 (n = 3) and 2 (n = 5) were administered 2.8 and 5.6 g of PI, respectively, at 7:00 AM with water and remained without food until 10:00 AM, when the subjects were asked to have a low-fat breakfast, specifically a low-fat muffin or bagel with juice and/or coffee. Groups 3 (n = 3) and 4 (n = 5) were administered 2.8 and 5.6 g of PI, respectively, at 7:00 AM with a low-fat breakfast (as above). Dietary questionnaires returned from all subjects indicated compliance and that the breakfasts contained fewer than 500 calories. PI administration without food (groups 1 and 2) or with food (groups 3 and 4) was continued every day for 2 weeks. All blood draws during the drug administration phase were performed after an overnight fast and just before the daily administration of PI.
PI for this study was purified from soy lecithin by multiple hot ethanol extractions and acetone precipitation. The material was then dried to a fine powder by rotary evaporation. Thin-layer chromatography analysis on HPTLC plates, chromatographed with chloroform-ethanol-water-triethylamine (30:35:7:35), demonstrated essentially complete removal of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and neutral lipids. TLC analysis against plant stanol and sterol reference standards (Matreya Biochemicals) indicated that these contaminants were also completely absent from PI, even after overloading of the TLC plates. PI was packaged into hard gelatin capsules for oral administration.
Laboratory assessment
After a 12 h overnight fast, venous blood was collected and submitted to the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, for hematology and chemistry analysis. The chemistry parameters included a complete blood count, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, and creatinine. Blood samples were also analyzed for serum lipid and lipoprotein evaluations, which included total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride. Total cholesterol, HDL-C, and plasma triglycerides were assayed enzymatically using a Synchron LX analyzer. Plasma apoA-I levels at days 0 and 14 were determined by the J. Alick Little Lipid Laboratory of St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto, Canada).
Statistical analysis
The differences observed between t = 0 and day 14 values were used to derive percentile changes for all of the lipid parameters. These values were used for paired two-tailed t-tests, and the significance of these differences is shown in Table 2. In addition, one-way ANOVA was used to test whether the differences observed between t = 0 and day 14 for each of the lipid parameters were significant between randomized groups. If an overall difference was found for a parameter, then pairwise comparisons using a Tukey adjustment for multiple comparisons were performed. P < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.
 |
RESULTS
|
|---|
Sixteen subjects were randomized to the four groups, with both low and high dosages administered with and without food. No moderate or serious adverse events were documented during the treatment phase of the clinical trial. Blood chemistry measurements remained within normal ranges for all parameters and for all subjects throughout the investigation.
Table 2 provides pretreatment and posttreatment lipid and lipoprotein levels for subjects in the various treatment groups. Administration of PI without food had a negligible effect on HDL-C levels with the lower dose but increased HDL-C by 4% (P < 0.05) with the high dose (Table 2). In contrast, when administered with food, PI showed an increase in plasma HDL-C levels, ranging from 5% to 23% (Table 2, Fig. 1)
. Pairwise comparisons showed the fed groups' responses to differ significantly from those of the groups that received the drug without food (Table 2). Subjects receiving the 2.8 g dose with food exhibited a mean increase in plasma HDL-C of 13%, and administration of 5.6 g of PI with food was associated with an 18% increase in plasma HDL-C (P < 0.001). HDL-C remained increased for several days after the treatment was ended. Two and 4 days after the last drug administration, the HDL-C levels were still increased by 10.1% and 5.8% relative to baseline values (data not shown). With the exception of one high-dose individual, all subjects receiving PI with food showed increased plasma apoA-I levels ranging from 2% to 15% (Table 2, Fig. 2)
. The mean increase of 6.4% for both low- and high-dose groups represents a significant increase in apoA-I (P < 0.03).

View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 1. Change in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in healthy volunteers receiving oral phosphatidylinositol (PI) with a meal. Mean percentile change in HDL-C levels (upper panel) and individual values on day 14 (lower panel) are shown for subjects who received 2.8 g (n = 3; open symbols) or 5.6 g (n = 5; closed symbols) of PI with a meal.
|
|

View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 2. Percent change in plasma apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) concentration in healthy volunteers receiving oral PI under fed conditions. Subjects received either 2.8 g (n = 3; open symbols) or 5.6 g (n = 5; closed symbols) of PI with a meal for 14 days.
|
|
Similar to observations with HDL, minimal changes in plasma triglycerides were observed when PI was administered without food, whereas significant reductions were evident when PI was taken with a meal (Table 2, Fig. 3)
. Subjects who received PI with food all exhibited decreased triglycerides, ranging from 5% to 60% (Fig. 3, lower panel). Individuals receiving the 5.6 g dose showed a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides of 36% (P < 0.05). There was also a mean 5% decrease in plasma triglycerides in the low-dose fed individuals, although this change was not statistically significant.

View larger version (18K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 3. Change in plasma triglycerides in healthy volunteers receiving oral PI with a meal. Mean percentile change in triglyceride levels (upper panel) and individual values on day 14 (lower panel) are shown for subjects who received 2.8 g (n = 3; open symbols) or 5.6 g (n = 5; closed symbols) of PI with a meal.
|
|
Plasma LDL-C levels remained unchanged in subjects receiving PI with or without food (Fig. 4
, upper panel). It should be noted, though, that four of five subjects in the high-dose fed group showed substantive decreases in LDL-C, ranging from 4% to 14% (Fig. 4, lower panel).

View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 4. Change in plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in healthy volunteers receiving oral PI with a meal. Mean percentile change in LDL-C levels (upper panel) and individual values on day 14 (lower panel) are shown for subjects who received 2.8 g (n = 3; open symbols) or 5.6 g (n = 5; closed symbols) of PI with a meal.
|
|
 |
DISCUSSION
|
|---|
It is becoming increasingly evident that low HDL-C can be an independent risk predictor of CAD even when LDL-C is low (17). Subjects with increased HDL (e.g., marathon runners and women) (18, 19) are at reduced risk of CAD, whereas primary isolated low HDL-C is a disorder characterized by an increased risk of CAD (20). It is also well documented that increased apoA-I production is antiatherogenic in animals (21, 22). Although therapeutic strategies to increase HDL-C levels have existed for several decades, problems with low efficacy and intolerable side effects have limited the popularity of the currently available drugs. HDL-C levels are effectively treated with fibrates and niacin. Niacin is currently the most effective HDL-increasing compound, providing increases in HDL of 2530% after several months of treatment. The CETP inhibitors, Torcetrapib (Pfizer) and JTT-705 (Japan Tobacco), are also promising new therapies for increasing HDL-C levels and may have value as combination therapies with the statins (6, 7). Increasing HDL levels is thought to have even greater potential benefits than simply decreasing the risk for CAD. A novel therapy using infusions of apoA-I Milano has recently been shown to induce the regression of atherosclerosis in humans (8).
This study has shown that daily PI is well tolerated and will result in significant increases in HDL-C and apoA-I and reductions in plasma triglycerides when administered at 5.6 g/day. Changes in plasma lipid levels were evident after only a few days of treatment and did not reach a plateau by 2 weeks. The most significant effects were observed when PI was administered with food. The increase in HDL-C in fed high-dose individuals reached 18% after only 2 weeks of administration. Because niacin can produce little change in HDL-C within 2 weeks, this result suggests that PI could equal or surpass the efficacy of niacin in longer term studies. All fed subjects demonstrated an increase in HDL-C levels. Plasma HDL-C in subjects who received PI without food also increased significantly with the high dose but changed little with the low dose of PI. Similarly, fed subjects showed major reductions in triglyceride, whereas subjects receiving PI without food exhibited highly variable triglyceride levels. These results suggest that intestinal absorption of PI may be sensitive to diet or increased biliary output associated with the ingestion of food.
PI appears to increase HDL-C levels by mobilizing a flux of cholesterol to HDL and blocking its transport and storage in LDL. Intravenous PI inhibits LCAT and CETP, increases efflux of cellular cholesterol to HDL, and increases transport of HDL-C to the liver, bile, and feces (15, 16). PI may therefore act to block the transfer and storage of cholesterol in the apoB pool and to stimulate reverse cholesterol transport. Our unpublished observations indicate that as much as 23% of orally administered PI traverses the intestinal tract in rats and rabbits. Therefore, the high dose used in this study should promote a plasma PI concentration that is close to that administered in our intravenous studies (15, 16). These effects would be expected to be transient, though, because PI has a very short half-life in the circulation (16). In this study, we observed no significant changes in lipoprotein charge during the trial, which suggests that PI did not accumulate in subject plasma. The intravascular effects of this compound may also parallel cellular metabolic effects, linked to a stimulation of inositol-signaling cascades. PI has significant lipid metabolic effects in a variety of different cell lines (15) and may therefore uniquely affect the enterohepatic metabolism of cholesterol and triglyceride. PI is a minor constituent (
24%) of lipoprotein phospholipids (23, 24), but studies suggest that PI may be a critical component of chyle and an important regulator of lipoprotein secretion (25, 26).
Because the mechanism of action of PI is distinct and different from that of the statins, both compounds may have additive effects, and as such, PI may have value as an adjunctive therapy in patients on statins. PI may also have direct value in CAD patients with reduced HDL-C but normal total cholesterol levels, in whom the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events is doubled (27, 28). Therefore, future studies are required to examine the effects of PI in patients with low HDL-C levels.
Manuscript received November 3, 2004
 |
REFERENCES
|
|---|
- Gordon, D. J., and B. M. Rifkind. 1989. High-density lipoprotein. The clinical implications of recent studies. N. Engl. J. Med. 321: 13111316.[Medline]
- Manninen, V., M. O. Elo, M. H. Frick, K. Haapa, O. P. Heinonen, P. Heinsalmi, P. Helo, J. K. Huttunen, P. Kaitaniemi, and P. Koskinen. 1988. Lipid alterations and decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the Helsinki Heart Study. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 260: 641651.[Abstract]
- Grundy, S. M., D. W. Goodman, B. M. Rifkind, and J. I. Cleeman. 1989. The place of HDL in cholesterol management. A perspective from the National Cholesterol Educational Program. Arch. Intern. Med. 149: 505510.[Abstract]
- King, J. M., J. R. Crouse, J. G. Terry, T. M. Morgan, B. J. Spray, and N. E. Miller. 1994. Evaluation of effects of unmodified niacin on fasting and postprandial plasma lipids in normolipidemic men with hypoalphalipoproteinemia. Am. J. Med. 97: 323331.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Miller, M., P. S. Bachorik, B. W. McCrindle, and P. O. Kwiterovich, Jr. 1993. Effect of gemfibrozil in men with primary isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Am. J. Med. 94: 712.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Clark, R. W., T. A. Sutfin, R. B. Ruggeri, A. T. Willauer, E. D. Sugarman, G. Magnus-Aryitey, P. G. Cosgrove, T. M. Sand, R. T. Wester, J. A. Williams, M. E. Perlman, and M. J. Bamberger. 2004. Raising high-density lipoprotein in humans through inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein: an initial multidose study of Torcetrapib. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 24: 490497.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- de Grooth, G. J., J. A. Kuivenhoven, A. F. Stalenhoef, J. De Graaf, A. H. Zwinderman, J. L. Posma, A. van Tol, and J. J. Kastelein. 2002. Efficacy and safety of a novel cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, JTT-705, in humans: a randomized phase II dose-response study. Circulation. 105: 21592165.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Nissen, S. E., T. Tsunoda, E. M. Tuzcu, P. Schoenhagen, C. J. Cooper, M. Yasin, G. M. Eaton, M. A. Lauer, W. S. Sheldon, C. L. Grines, S. Halpern, T. Crowe, J. C. Blankenship, and R. Kerensky. 2003. Effect of recombinant ApoA-I Milano on coronary atherosclerosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a randomized controlled trial. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 290: 22922300.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Brook, J. G., S. Linn, and M. Aviram. 1986. Dietary soya lecithin decreases plasma triglyceride levels and inhibits collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Biochem. Med. Metab. Biol. 35: 3139.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Tompkins, R. K., and L. G. Parkin. 1980. Effects of long-term ingestion of soya phospholipids on serum lipids in humans. Am. J. Surg. 140: 360364.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Kirsten, R., B. Heintz, K. Nelson, K. Hesse, E. Schneider, G. Oremek, and N. Nemeth. 1994. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine improves the lipoprotein profile in diabetic patients. Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 32: 5356.[Medline]
- Kirsten, R., B. Heintz, K. Nelson, and G. Oremek. 1989. Reduction of hyperlipidemia with 3-sn-polyenyl-phosphatidylcholine in dialysis patients. Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. Toxicol. 27: 129134.[Medline]
- Zeman, M., A. Zak, and P. Stolba. 1995. The effect of polyene phosphatidylcholine administration on lipid metabolism and glucose tolerance in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia IIB. Sb. Lek. 96: 4348.[Medline]
- Noseda, G., F. Suva, and C. Fragiacomo. 1985. Modification of serum lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins AI and B in patients with hyperlipidemia type IIa and IIb using polyenylphosphatidylcholine. Schweiz. Med. Wochenschr. 115: 10641070.[Medline]
- Stamler, C. J., D. Breznan, T. A. Neville, F. J. Viau, E. Camlioglu, and D. L. Sparks. 2000. Phosphatidylinositol promotes cholesterol transport in vivo. J. Lipid Res. 41: 12141221.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Burgess, J. W., J. Boucher, T. A. Neville, P. Rouillard, C. Stamler, S. Zachariah, and D. L. Sparks. 2003. Phosphatidylinositol promotes cholesterol transport and excretion. J. Lipid Res. 44: 13551363.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Gordon, T., W. P. Castelli, M. C. Hjortland, W. B. Kannel, and T. R. Dawber. 1977. High density lipoprotein as a protective factor against coronary heart disease. The Framingham Study. Am. J. Med. 62: 707714.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Tikkanen, M. J., E. A. Nikkila, T. Kuusi, and S. U. Sipinen. 1982. High density lipoprotein-2 and hepatic lipase: reciprocal changes produced by estrogen and norgestrel. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 54: 11131117.[Abstract]
- Wood, P. D., W. L. Haskell, S. N. Blair, P. T. Williams, R. M. Krauss, F. T. Lindgren, J. J. Albers, P. H. Ho, and J. W. Farquhar. 1983. Increased exercise level and plasma lipoprotein concentrations: a one year, randomized, controlled study in sedentary, middle-aged men. Metabolism. 32: 3139.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Miller, M., and P. O. Kwiterovich, Jr. 1990. Isolated low HDL-cholesterol as an important risk factor for coronary heart disease. Eur. Heart J. 11 (Suppl.): H9H14.
- Ameli, S., A. Hultgardh-Nilsson, B. Cercek, P. K. Shah, J. S. Forrester, H. Ageland, and J. Nilsson. 1994. Recombinant apolipoprotein A-I Milano reduces intimal thickening after balloon injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Circulation. 90: 19351941.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Duverger, N., H. Kruth, F. Emmanuel, J. M. Caillaud, C. Viglietta, G. Castro, A. Tailleux, C. Fievet, J. C. Fruchart, L. M. Houdebine, and P. Denefle. 1996. Inhibition of atherosclerosis development in cholesterol-fed human apolipoprotein A-I-transgenic rabbits. Circulation. 94: 713717.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Breckenridge, W. C., and F. B. Palmer. 1982. Fatty acid composition of human plasma lipoprotein phosphatidylinositols. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 712: 707711.[Medline]
- Zhang, W. W., B. Asztalos, P. S. Roheim, and L. Wong. 1998. Characterization of phospholipids in pre-
HDL: selective phospholipid efflux with apolipoprotein A-I. J. Lipid Res. 39: 16011607.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Chu, S. W., and R. P. Geyer. 1982. Myo-inositol action on gerbil intestine. Association of phosphatidylinositol metabolism with lipid clearance. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 710: 6370.[Medline]
- Holub, B. J. 1986. Metabolism and function of myo-inositol and inositol phospholipids. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 6: 563597.[CrossRef][Medline]
- Miller, M., L. A. Mead, P. O. Kwiterovich, Jr., and T. A. Pearson. 1990. Dyslipidemias with desirable plasma total cholesterol levels and angiographically demonstrated coronary artery disease. Am. J. Cardiol. 65: 15.[Medline]
- Miller, M., A. Seidler, P. O. Kwiterovich, and T. A. Pearson. 1992. Long-term predictors of subsequent cardiovascular events with coronary artery disease and desirable levels of plasma total cholesterol. Circulation. 86: 11651170.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

CiteULike
Complore
Connotea
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
I. M. Singh, M. H. Shishehbor, and B. J. Ansell
High-Density Lipoprotein as a Therapeutic Target: A Systematic Review
JAMA,
August 15, 2007;
298(7):
786 - 798.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Duffy and D. J. Rader
Emerging Therapies Targeting High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism and Reverse Cholesterol Transport
Circulation,
February 28, 2006;
113(8):
1140 - 1150.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|