2024-05-28 00:30:02
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This page was heavily revised and expanded. Overall, there was no consistent benefit of PS for cognition in people over 50, for chronic stress, or for exercise performance.
Phosphatidylserine
•Last Updated: May 28, 2024
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an amino acid derivative that is fat soluble and found in high amounts in the brain, where it contributes to cognitive functioning. PS has been studied the most for cognition in adults over 50, for people with high chronic stress, and for exercise performance, but further research is needed to confirm any benefit.
Phosphatidylserine is most often used for
Last Updated:May 28, 2024
Phosphatidylserine is a key lipid found in mammalian cell membranes and makes up 15% of the total phospholipids in the human brain. Originally extracted from cattle brains, it is now primarily derived from soy due to safety concerns, and it is often studied in relation to omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) may provide cognitive benefits for adults older than age 50 at dosages of 100 to 300 mg per day, although research results are inconsistent and further studies are needed. Additionally, supplemental PS might help reduce perceived stress in people with high chronic stress, but evidence for this is also mixed and limited.
Does phosphatidylserine benefit cognition?
Does phosphatidylserine mitigate the effects of stress?
Does phosphatidylserine benefit performance in physically active individuals?
Does phosphatidylserine benefit children with ADHD?
Does phosphatidylserine mitigate the effects of stress?
Does phosphatidylserine benefit athletic performance in physically active individuals?
Phosphatidylserine trials have generally not reported adverse events, but those that do indicate no significant increase in risks compared to control groups. Some gastrointestinal discomfort was noted in children with ADHD, but it may be reduced by taking PS with food.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) influences the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis by potentially reducing levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol, which are involved in the body's stress response. Additionally, PS can cross the blood-brain barrier to enhance neuronal communication and support cognitive functions such as memory and learning.
Note that Phosphatidylserine is also known as:
- PS
Phosphatidylserine should not be confused with:
- Serine
- Phosphatidylcholine
A standard dosage of phosphatidylserine (PS) is 300 mg daily, divided into 3 doses of 100 mg each. This dosage seems to be effective as a daily preventative against cognitive decline, and 100 mg once daily may provide some degree of benefit (but might be less beneficial than 300 mg).
Studies in children and adolescents for the purpose of attention improvement tend to use 200 mg, and a dose of 200–400 mg has been used in adult non-elderly humans with success. Animal evidence tends to use a dose correlating to 550mg as well.
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2024-01-03 00:30:02
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We added our standard FAQs to this page
2023-12-18 00:30:03
Full page update
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We updated this page and it's database with the newest meta-analyses.
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- ^Kingsley MI, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Dietzig RE, Benton DPhosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill runningMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2006 Sep)
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- ^Jeffrey A Stanley, Heidi Kipp, Erika Greisenegger, Frank P MacMaster, K Panchalingam, Jay W Pettegrew, Matcheri S Keshavan, Oscar G BuksteinRegionally specific alterations in membrane phospholipids in children with ADHD: An in vivo 31P spectroscopy studyPsychiatry Res.(2006 Dec 1)
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- Reaction Time - Jorissen BL, Brouns F, Van Boxtel MP, Ponds RW, Verhey FR, Jolles J, Riedel WJThe influence of soy-derived phosphatidylserine on cognition in age-associated memory impairmentNutr Neurosci.(2001)
- Heart Rate - Kato-Kataoka A, Sakai M, Ebina R, Nonaka C, Asano T, Miyamori TSoybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaintsJ Clin Biochem Nutr.(2010 Nov)
- Cognition - Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Korczyn ADPhosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord.(2010)
- Cognitive Decline - Engel RR, Satzger W, Günther W, Kathmann N, Bove D, Gerke S, Münch U, Hippius HDouble-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer typeEur Neuropsychopharmacol.(1992 Jun)
- Cognitive Decline - Klinkhammer P, Szelies B, Heiss W.D.Effect of Phosphatidylserine on Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Alzheimer's DiseaseDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.()
- Cognitive Decline - Crook T, Petrie W, Wells C, Massari DCEffects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's diseasePsychopharmacol Bull.(1992)
- Cortisol - Parker AG, Gordon J, Thornton A, Byars A, Lubker J, Bartlett M, Byrd M, Oliver J, Simbo S, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Kreider RBThe effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2011 Oct 21)
- Stress Signs and Symptoms - Baumeister J, Barthel T, Geiss KR, Weiss MInfluence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci.(2008 Jun)
- Exercise-Induced Oxidation - Kingsley MI, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Dietzig RE, Benton DPhosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill runningMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2006 Sep)
- Memory - Schreiber S, Kampf-Sherf O, Gorfine M, Kelly D, Oppenheim Y, Lerer BAn open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive declineIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci.(2000)
- Fatigue Symptoms - Kingsley MI, Miller M, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Benton DEffects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc.(2006 Jan)
- Golf Performance Metrics - Ralf Jäger, Martin Purpura, Kurt-Reiner Geiss, Michael Wei, Jochen Baumeister, Francesco Amatulli, Lars Schröder, and Holger HerwegenThe effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performanceJISSN.()
- Blood Lactate (Exercise) - Monteleone P, Maj M, Beinat L, Natale M, Kemali DBlunting by chronic phosphatidylserine administration of the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy menEur J Clin Pharmacol.(1992)
- Attention - Alisha Bruton, Joy Nauman, Douglas Hanes, Melissa Gard, Angela SendersPhosphatidylserine for the Treatment of Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ Altern Complement Med.(2021 Feb 4)