Phosphatidylserine

Ingredients A-Z

Overview

Phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid nutrient that is found abundant in the neuronal membrane1. It is essential to its functioning, acting as a biological detergent and maintaining solubility and flexibility of fatty substances in cell membranes⁶.

The first 100% solvent-free soy-derived PS was introduced in 1992 has shown to offer great bioavailability when taken orally². PS is one of the most important brain nutrients that influences neurotransmitter systems, including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine⁴. Hence, it offers vast health benefits on cognitive functioning.

Key indications

Cognitive function

Delay recall is considered as one of the indicators of impaired cognitive functions at early stage of dementia. Daily consumption of PS may improve memory function, particularly in delayed recall in the elderly with memory complaints¹.
PS may improve attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms, short-term auditory memory (the ability to process, analyse and recall orally presented information) and inattention in children aged 4 to 14 years old⁴.
PS (in combination with DHA and EPA) may positively influence the memory skills as observed in verbal immediate memory, long term memory, learning abilities and response rate among cognitively impaired elderly⁵.
Taking PS daily (in combination with phosphatidic acid) may have favourable effect on memory and cognition in elderly with cognitive deficiencies⁶.
Daily intake of PS has resulted in cognitive and memory enhancement in young students as measured in language and non-language memory abilities improvement⁷.

Stress and mood

PS (with phosphatic acid and phospholipids complex) may help reduce stress response. This could be observed through the dampening reactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis to stress as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisone levels were inhibited³.
PS (in combination with phosphatidic acid) may improve emotional tension, mental health and daily functioning in elderly with Alzheimer’s disease⁶.
PS may reduce exercise-induced stress following strenuous exercise training through prevent the increase in cortisol and adrenocorticotropin⁸.

Cognitive function

Delay recall is considered as one of the indicators of impaired cognitive functions at early stage of dementia. Daily consumption of PS may improve memory function, particularly in delayed recall in the elderly with memory complaints¹.
PS may improve attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms, short-term auditory memory (the ability to process, analyse and recall orally presented information) and inattention in children aged 4 to 14 years old⁴.
PS (in combination with DHA and EPA) may positively influence the memory skills as observed in verbal immediate memory, long term memory, learning abilities and response rate among cognitively impaired elderly⁵.
Taking PS daily (in combination with phosphatidic acid) may have favourable effect on memory and cognition in elderly with cognitive deficiencies⁶.
Daily intake of PS has resulted in cognitive and memory enhancement in young students as measured in language and non-language memory abilities improvement⁷.

Stress and mood

PS (with phosphatic acid and phospholipids complex) may help reduce stress response. This could be observed through the dampening reactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis to stress as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisone levels were inhibited³.
PS (in combination with phosphatidic acid) may improve emotional tension, mental health and daily functioning in elderly with Alzheimer’s disease⁶.
PS may reduce exercise-induced stress following strenuous exercise training through prevent the increase in cortisol and adrenocorticotropin⁸.

Adverse effects

PS is generally well tolerated for most people up to 3 months administration without incidence of significant side effects. The most common adverse reactions include stomach upset, nausea, flatulence, vomiting as well as dry mouth, headache, restlessness, and insomnia⁹. Effects associated with gastrointestinal discomforts can be minimised by consuming PS with meal⁵.

Dosage range

Typical doses used in clinical trials are ranging from 200mg to 400mg daily for 1 to 3 months.

Cognitive function:

100mg and 300mg daily for 3 months¹.
100mg twice daily for 2 months⁴.
300mg daily (in combination with 79mg DHA + EPA) for 15 weeks⁵; (in combination with 240mg phosphatidic acid) for 3 months⁶
100mg daily for 40 consecutive days⁷

Stress and mood:

400mg daily (in combination with phosphatic acid and phospholipids complex) for 3 weeks³

Contraindications/cautions

PS might cause hypersensitivity (anaphylactic reaction). Be cautious when you are taking these drugs and supplements as interaction may occur:
– Anticholinergic drugs (drying medication)
– Cholinergic drugs (for glaucoma, Alzheimer’s diseases, etc.)

Safety data on pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established.

Adverse effects

Dosage range

Typical doses used in clinical trials are ranging from 200mg to 400mg daily for 1 to 3 months.

Cognitive function:

100mg and 300mg daily for 3 months¹.
100mg twice daily for 2 months⁴.
300mg daily (in combination with 79mg DHA + EPA) for 15 weeks⁵; (in combination with 240mg phosphatidic acid) for 3 months⁶
100mg daily for 40 consecutive days⁷

Stress and mood:

400mg daily (in combination with phosphatic acid and phospholipids complex) for 3 weeks³

Contraindications/cautions

PS might cause hypersensitivity (anaphylactic reaction). Be cautious when you are taking these drugs and supplements as interaction may occur:
– Anticholinergic drugs (drying medication)
– Cholinergic drugs (for glaucoma, Alzheimer’s diseases, etc.)

Safety data on pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established.

References :

Kato-Kataoka, A., Sakai, M., Ebina, R., et al. (2010). Soybean-Derived Phosphatidylserine Improves Memory Function of the Elderly Japanese Subjects with Memory Complaints. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 47, 246-255.
Shinitzky, M. (1999). Kinetics and Safety of Soy Lecithin Phosphatidylserine (PS) Absorption (Weizman Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel), Internal report of Lipogen Ltd.
Hellhammer, J., Fries, E., Buss, C., et al. (2004). Effects of Soy Lecithin Phosphatidic Acid and Phosphatidylserine Complex (PAS) on the Endocrine and Psychological Responses to Mental Stress. Stress, 7(2), 119-126.
Hirayama, S., Terasawa, K., Rabeler, R., et al. (2014). The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Hum Nutr Diet, 27 Suppl 2, 284-91.
Vakhapova, V. C., Cohen, T., Richter, Y., et al. (2010). Research on human memory enhancement by phosphatidylserine fortified milk. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 29, 467-474.
More, M. I., Freitas, U., & Rutenberg, D. (2014). Positive Effects of Soy Lecithin-Derived Phosphatidylserine plus Phosphatidic Acid on Memory, Cognition, Daily Functioning, and Mood in Elderly Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Adv Ther, 31, 1247-1262.
Yong, T., Qianyong, Z., Mantian, M., et al. (2011). Research on human memory enhancement by phosphatidylserine fortified milk. Chongqing Medicine, 30, 1671-83483.
Fahey, T. D., Pearl, M. S. (1998). The hormonal and perceptive effects of phosphatidylserine administration during two weeks of resistive exercise-induced overtraining. Biol Sport, 15, 135-44.
WebMD. (2022, January 12). Phosphatidylserine – Uses, Side Effects, And More. Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-992/phosphatidylserine

References :

Kato-Kataoka, A., Sakai, M., Ebina, R., et al. (2010). Soybean-Derived Phosphatidylserine Improves Memory Function of the Elderly Japanese Subjects with Memory Complaints. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 47, 246-255.
Shinitzky, M. (1999). Kinetics and Safety of Soy Lecithin Phosphatidylserine (PS) Absorption (Weizman Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel), Internal report of Lipogen Ltd.
Hellhammer, J., Fries, E., Buss, C., et al. (2004). Effects of Soy Lecithin Phosphatidic Acid and Phosphatidylserine Complex (PAS) on the Endocrine and Psychological Responses to Mental Stress. Stress, 7(2), 119-126.
Hirayama, S., Terasawa, K., Rabeler, R., et al. (2014). The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Hum Nutr Diet, 27 Suppl 2, 284-91.
Vakhapova, V. C., Cohen, T., Richter, Y., et al. (2010). Research on human memory enhancement by phosphatidylserine fortified milk. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 29, 467-474.
More, M. I., Freitas, U., & Rutenberg, D. (2014). Positive Effects of Soy Lecithin-Derived Phosphatidylserine plus Phosphatidic Acid on Memory, Cognition, Daily Functioning, and Mood in Elderly Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Adv Ther, 31, 1247-1262.
Yong, T., Qianyong, Z., Mantian, M., et al. (2011). Research on human memory enhancement by phosphatidylserine fortified milk. Chongqing Medicine, 30, 1671-83483.
Fahey, T. D., Pearl, M. S. (1998). The hormonal and perceptive effects of phosphatidylserine administration during two weeks of resistive exercise-induced overtraining. Biol Sport, 15, 135-44.
WebMD. (2022, January 12). Phosphatidylserine – Uses, Side Effects, And More. Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-992/phosphatidylserine

The material is prepared for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a piece of personal medical advice. Owing to each person’s varying health needs, a physician should be consulted before acting on any information provided in this material. Although every effort is made to ensure that this material is accurate, it is compiled for internal use only and should not be considered definitive. Neither VitaHealth nor its employees, or information providers shall be responsible or liable for any errors, inaccuracies, or other defects in the information contained in this publication.