Product Information

L-Trepein was one of the first formulas in the Thorne Research line of dietary supplements. A time-tested lipotropic formula, it is consistently a best seller. Lipotropic is a term applied to substances that can improve lipid metabolism in the liver and prevent the accumulation of fat. This term has been expanded to also include substances that stimulate the liver's bile output. Numerous nutrients and botanicals are capable of lipotropic activity.

As a precursor to phosphatidylcholine and glycine and their derivatives (betaine, dimethylglycine, and serine), choline is a premier lipotropic. Choline deficiency is a well-documented cause of fat accumulation in the liver. Choline can emulsify lipids and provide the substrate for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, thus promoting healthy liver cell membranes.

Vitamin B12 and methionine provide methyl groups for numerous metabolic pathways, including synthesis of the detoxification molecules cysteine and glutathione. Phosphatidylcholine is also dependent on methyl groups provided by these nutrients.

Vitamin B6 and magnesium are essential cofactors in hundreds of biochemical reactions, many of which take place in the liver. Vitamin B6 is provided in its active form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, because a poorly functioning liver may not convert the inactive form of vitamin B6 to the active form.

Green tea is an excellent source of catechin, a flavonoid with potent antioxidant and liver-protective properties. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), beet leaf (Beta vulgaris) and celandine (Chelidonium majus) are botanicals that have been used traditionally to increase bile output and support overall liver function.