lecithin /les″ithin/ [Gk, lekithos, yolk] , phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid common in plants and animals. Lecithin is found in the liver, nerve tissue, semen, and in smaller amounts, in bile and blood. It is essential as a component of all cell membranes and for fat metabolism and is used in the processing of foods, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and inks. Rich dietary sources are soybeans, egg yolk, and corn. See also choline, inositol.
