Phosphatidylserine - NutraPedia

Back to Table of Contents

Phosphatidylserine Overview

1) Conditions Studied for Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine has been studied for a variety of conditions, including:

  • Cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease
  • Depression
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Exercise performance and muscle soreness

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

Research on phosphatidylserine's effectiveness for treating these conditions has shown mixed results:

  • Some studies suggest that it may improve cognitive function and slow cognitive decline in the elderly, but more research is needed.
  • It has shown potential in reducing symptoms of depression and stress, but again, further studies are required.
  • There is limited evidence for its effectiveness in managing ADHD symptoms.
  • Regarding exercise performance, it may help reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery, but the evidence is not conclusive.

3) Health Benefits of Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is known for its potential health benefits, including:

  • Enhancing cognitive function and memory
  • Reducing stress and cortisol levels
  • Improving mood and fighting depression
  • Possibly aiding in sports recovery and muscle soreness

4) Downsides of Phosphatidylserine

While phosphatidylserine is generally considered safe, there are some potential downsides:

  • It can cause side effects such as insomnia and stomach upset in some individuals.
  • High doses may increase the risk of side effects.
  • Long-term safety data is lacking.
  • It might interact with blood-thinning and anti-inflammatory medications.

5) Phosphatidylserine and Genetic Variations

There is currently limited research on the relationship between phosphatidylserine and specific genetic variations. However, some studies suggest that:

  • Individuals with certain genetic profiles may respond differently to phosphatidylserine supplementation.
  • Genetic variations affecting brain chemistry and lipid metabolism could influence the efficacy of phosphatidylserine.
  • More personalized research is needed to fully understand these relationships.

Summary of Phosphatidylserine Research

Background: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that plays an important role in cell membrane structure and function, particularly in the brain.

Effects on Immune Function and Metabolism

Research demonstrates that soy lecithin supplementation, containing PS, can modulate the immune system in diabetic rats. Supplementation increased the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and the number of lymphocytes without altering plasma lipid levels, suggesting an immunomodulatory effect attributed to phosphatidylcholine, a component of soy lecithin.

Neuroprotective and Cognitive Benefits

PS exposure on T lymphocytes during apoptosis signals macrophages for the removal of dying cells. In dog brains, PS modulates enzyme activities in synaptosomal plasma membranes (SPM), potentially affecting central nervous system functioning. Studies also indicate that PS is essential for protein kinase activation, influencing cognitive functions.

Impact on Aging and Neurodegeneration

Research has found PS exposure as an early event in apoptosis of neuronal cells, suggesting a connection to neurodegenerative diseases. PS may also mitigate age-related cognitive decline by influencing neurotransmitter systems that degrade with age, such as dopamine and acetylcholine.

Effectiveness for Cognitive Disorders and Memory

Supplementation with PS derived from soy or bovine cortex has shown potential in improving memory function and cognitive disorders in both humans and rodents. In particular, soybean-derived phosphatidylserine (SB-tPS) has been shown to reverse memory loss and improve brain glucose concentrations in animal studies.

Stress Response and Exercise Performance

PS supplementation may reduce the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis caused by stress and enhance exercise capacity, suggesting ergogenic benefits.

Safety and Bioavailability

Studies have confirmed the safety of PS supplementation, including soy-derived variants, with no adverse effects on growth or body weight. Soy-PS and PS enriched with omega-3 fatty acids have been well-tolerated in clinical trials.

Conclusion

Phosphatidylserine has shown promise as a supplement for improving immune function, cognitive abilities, and managing stress response. It appears to be safe for consumption and may offer therapeutic benefits for age-related cognitive decline and memory improvements.

References:


  1. Soy lecithin supplementation alters macrophage phagocytosis and lymphocyte response to concanavalin A: a study in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
  2. Molecular biology of prion diseases
  3. Biochemical changes of rat brain membranes with aging
  4. Role of membrane lipid asymmetry in aging
  5. Changes in the properties of normal human red blood cells during in vivo aging
  6. Senescence of canine biotinylated erythrocytes: increased autologous immunoglobulin binding occurs on erythrocytes aged in vivo for 104 to 110 days
  7. Mechanisms of phosphatidylserine exposure, a phagocyte recognition signal, on apoptotic T lymphocytes
  8. Influence of phosphatidylserine on (Na+ + K+)-stimulated ATPase and acetylcholinesterase activities of dog brain synaptosomal plasma membranes
  9. Cooperative roles of various membrane phospholipids in the activation of calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase
  10. Stimulation of the (Na + + K + )-dependent adenosine triphosphatase by amino acids and phosphatidylserine: chelation of trace metal inhibitors
  11. Pharmacological effects of phosphatidylserine enzymatically synthesized from soybean lecithin on brain functions in rodents
  12. Oral administration of soybean lecithin transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine improves memory impairment in aged rats
  13. Effects of phosphatidylserine on the neuroendocrine response to physical stress in humans
  14. Blunting by chronic phosphatidylserine administration of the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy men
  15. The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exercise
  16. The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
  17. The effect of phosphatidylserine containing Omega3 fatty-acids on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, followed by an open-label extension
  18. Safety of phosphatidylserine containing omega3 fatty acids in ADHD children: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial followed by an open-label extension
  19. Correlation between changes in blood fatty acid composition and visual sustained attention performance in children with inattention: effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids containing phospholipids
  20. Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations--a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil
  21. Elucidation of phosphatidylcholine composition in krill oil extracted from Euphausia superba
  22. Omega-3 fatty acids administered in phosphatidylserine improved certain aspects of high chronic stress in men
  23. Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stress
  24. Phosphatidylserine: quantitative EEG effects in healthy volunteers
  25. Phosphatidylserine reverses the age-dependent decrease in cortical acetylcholine release: a microdialysis study
  26. Pharmacological effect of phosphatidylserine on age-dependent memory dysfunction
  27. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin metabolic levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in Alzheimer's presenile dementia under basic conditions and after stimulation with cerebral cortex phospholipids (BC-PL)
  28. Phosphatidylserine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: results of a multicenter study
  29. Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer type
  30. Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's disease
  31. Long-term effects of phosphatidylserine, pyritinol, and cognitive training in Alzheimer's disease. A neuropsychological, EEG, and PET investigation
  32. Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration
  33. Double-blind study with phosphatidylserine (PS) in parkinsonian patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT)
  34. Double-blind randomized controlled study of phosphatidylserine in senile demented patients
  35. Effects of phosphatidylserine therapy in geriatric patients with depressive disorders
  36. Chronic phosphatidylserine treatment improves spatial memory and passive avoidance in aged rats
  37. Behavioral effects of phosphatidylserine in aged rats
  38. Enhanced learning of normal adult rodents by repeated oral administration of soybean transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine
  39. An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline
  40. The development and validation of a test battery for detecting and monitoring everyday memory problems
  41. Psychometric equivalence of the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised with the Mini-Mental State Examination in stroke patients
  42. Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaints
  43. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial
  44. Effects of phosphatidylserine in age-associated memory impairment
  45. The influence of soy-derived phosphatidylserine on cognition in age-associated memory impairment
  46. The effect of phosphatidylserine-containing omega-3 fatty acids on memory abilities in subjects with subjective memory complaints: a pilot study
  47. Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active males
  48. Phosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill running
  49. Fish oil supplementation alters the plasma lipidomic profile and increases long-chain PUFAs of phospholipids and triglycerides in healthy subjects
  50. Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine
  51. Safety of soy-derived phosphatidylserine in elderly people


Upload Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) raw DNA data today and take a deep dive into your genome!

Or if you only have standard microarray data currently, upload raw DNA data to get started with your free DNA raw data analysis today!