Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid found in cell membranes, especially in the brain. Supplements are usually made from soy or sunflower lecithin.
Also listed as PS, Phosphatidyl Serine
What do memory trials show?
In 78 Japanese adults with memory complaints, six months of soy PS produced test-score improvements similar to placebo overall, with encouraging findings among lower-scoring participants. A separate 15-week trial of PS containing omega-3 fats found improved immediate verbal recall. Different products and selective results leave the size of any everyday benefit uncertain. 1 2
Lower cortisol does not necessarily mean less stress
A German trial in 75 healthy men tested PS combined with phosphatidic acid for six weeks. The higher-dose combination reduced hormonal responses to a laboratory stressor in the highly stressed subgroup, but psychological stress responses did not significantly improve. The result cannot isolate PS from the other ingredient. 3
A subgroup hormone finding with a combination is not proof that PS alone relieves daily stress. 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Stress & Mood6 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
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No study is linked to this rating.
Cognition5 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaints Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 2010
- Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2010
- A soy-based phosphatidylserine/phosphatidic acid complex normalizes stress reactivity in chronically stressed male subjects Lipids in Health and Disease, 2014