Phosphatidylcholine and Sodium Deoxycholate in the Treatment of Localized Fat: A Double-Blind, Randomized Study

BACKGROUND Recent articles have introduced the novel concept of chemical lipolysis through local injections. Phosphatidylcholine is the active drug in the commercial preparation used for this purpose, but some studies have suggested that sodium deoxycholate, an excipient of the preparation, could be the real active substance. AIM We decided to investigate whether phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate have any clin-ical efficacy in chemical lipolysis and their respective roles. We also studied the safety and side effects of the treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-seven consecutive female patients were studied for the treatment of localized fat in gynoid lipodystrophy. Each patient received injections of a phosphatidylcholine/sodium deoxycholate preparation on one side and sodium deoxycholate on the contralateral side, each single patient being herself the control. Four treatments were carried out every 8 weeks in a double-blind, randomized fashion. Metric circumferential evaluations and photographic and ultrasonographic mea-surements throughout the study allowed for final judgment. A statistical evaluation concluded our study. RESULTS An overall reduction of local fat was obtained in 91.9 % of the patients without statisticall