Phosphatidylserine (PS · Soy PS · Cognitive Health Phospholipid)
| CAS No. | 51446-62-9 |
| Class | Lipid · Phospholipid · Glycerophosphoserine |
| Source | Glycine max (Soybean) — seed (primary commercial source, soy PS); Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) — seed (soy-free alternative) |
| Claim strength | Moderate |
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Phosphatidylserine is the most abundant acidic phospholipid in the human brain, constituting approximately 15–20% of total brain phospholipid content. Its concentration is particularly high in the inner leaflet of neuronal membranes, where it plays critical roles in neurotransmitter release, signal transduction, and neuronal communication. Following BSE concerns in the 1990s, commercial production shifted from bovine cortex-derived PS entirely to plant-source PS (soy or sunflower), which has a different fatty acid profile but similar clinical evidence in more recent trials.
Phosphatidylserine for Cognitive Health, Memory, Stress & ADHD — Evidence
Cognitive health and memory — FDA qualified health claim: The FDA has granted a qualified health claim for phosphatidylserine: consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly and may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. This is qualified as very limited and preliminary evidence but constitutes regulatory acknowledgement. Claim strength: Moderate.
RCT evidence — cognitive function in older adults: Multiple RCTs with soy-source PS at 300mg per day (100mg three times daily) document improvements in memory, executive function, and verbal fluency in older adults with age-associated memory impairment. Claim strength: Moderate.
Stress and cortisol modulation: Several RCTs document that PS supplementation at 400–800mg per day attenuates cortisol responses to physical and psychological stress. This is a commercially significant positioning angle for athletic recovery and stress resilience formulations. Claim strength: Moderate.
ADHD — emerging paediatric evidence: Preliminary RCTs document improvements in ADHD symptom scores in children supplemented with soy PS at 200–300mg per day over 2–3 months. Claim strength: Emerging.
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Dosage & Formulator Notes
Clinically referenced dose: 300mg per day (100mg three times daily) for cognitive health in older adults. 400–800mg per day for cortisol/stress attenuation. 200–300mg per day in ADHD paediatric trials. CDP-choline and Alpha-GPC have superior blood-brain barrier penetration as choline donors — a PS + DHA + CDP-choline combination is commercially available and supported by some clinical evidence for comprehensive brain phospholipid support.
Pairs with: DHA omega-3 (PS + DHA combination for synergistic cognitive support), phosphatidylcholine (comprehensive phospholipid brain formulation), bacopa monnieri (cognitive herbal + phospholipid combination), Ginkgo biloba (cerebrovascular + cognitive support combination).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is phosphatidylserine and why is it important for brain health?
Phosphatidylserine is the most abundant acidic phospholipid in the human brain — approximately 15–20% of total brain phospholipid content. It plays critical roles in neurotransmitter release, signal transduction, and maintenance of membrane fluidity. PS levels in the brain decline with ageing.
Is soy-source phosphatidylserine as effective as the original bovine-source PS?
Original clinical research used bovine cortex-derived PS enriched in DHA and stearic acid. More recent RCTs with soy PS document cognitive benefits similar in direction to BC-PS studies. The FDA qualified health claim covers soy PS specifically.
Can phosphatidylserine help with ADHD?
Preliminary RCTs in children with ADHD document improvements in attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity with soy PS at 200–300mg per day over 2–3 months. ADHD is a medically diagnosed condition — any supplement use should be discussed with a healthcare professional. Position as cognitive support on supplement labels.
Does phosphatidylserine reduce cortisol?
Multiple RCTs document that PS supplementation at 400–800mg per day attenuates cortisol responses to physical exercise and psychological stress. PS blunts exercise-induced cortisol increases and reduces perceived stress scores — a commercially significant application in sports recovery and stress resilience formulations.
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human studies; Moderate = a few trials; Emerging = early lab data.
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