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Efficacy of phosphatidylcholine in the modulation of motion sickness susceptibilityThis study evaluated the efficacy of pharmacological doses of phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) in the modulation of motion sickness induced by exposure to coriolis stimulation in a rotating chair. Subjects received daily dietary supplements of 25 grams of lecithin (90 percent phosphatidylcholine) and were tested for their susceptibility to motion sickness after 4 h, 2 d, and 21 d. A small but statistically significant increase in susceptibility (+15 percent) was noted 4 h after supplemental phosphatidylcholine, with four of nine subjects demonstrating a marked increase in susceptibility. This finding was attributed to choline's stimulatory action on cholinergic systems, an action which opposes that of the classical antimotion sickness drug scopolamine. Chronic lecithin loading revealed a trend towards reduced susceptibility, possibly indicating the occurrence of adaptive mechanisms such as receptor down-regulation. Withdrawal from lecithin loading, perhaps coupled with anticholinergic treatment, might prove to be a potent prophylactic regimen and ought to be tested.
Document ID
19850051710
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kohl, R. L.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Ryan, P.
(Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Homick, J. L.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
Volume: 56
ISSN: 0095-6562
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Accession Number
85A33861
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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