·         Provides building blocks for healthy neurons*

Phospholipid molecules are key components of cellular membranes. The incorporation of these molecules into membranes facilitates healthy cell function, toxin removal and cellular signaling. One of the most important of these compounds for neural cells is phosphatidylserine (PS), which makes up about 10% of the composition of neuronal cell membranes. Phosphatidylserine can be made by the body and is also taken into the body as part of the diet. Some researchers believe that supplemental PS may be highly indicated as we age, since our natural diets may contain suboptimal amounts of phosphatidylserine.¹ It is thought to be especially important in maintaining the general structure and function of the neuron. Supplemental phosphatidylserine may have beneficial effects on memory function by allowing neurons in the neuron networks to effectively communicate with one another.

Studies suggest that phosphatidylserine enhances signal transmission between neural cells. An in vitro study measured the effects of phosphatidylserine on hippocampal (brain) slices taken from male albino rats.² In this study, the researchers found that when the brain slices were bathed in PS, they had increased efficiency of nerve transmission and an enhancement of long-term potentiation (which is related to information storage in the brain) compared to control.

·         Supports healthy memory and thinking ability*

Animal Studies

Research has shown the ability of phosphatidylserine to enhance mental function. Studies in animals suggest that phosphatidylserine can positively impact learning ability. In one such study, PS derived from soybean lecithin was evaluated in mice for its effect on chemically-induced impaired learning. The phosphatidylserine was given in the amount of 240, 360, or 480 mg/kg, and was able to significantly reverse the learning impairment in mice.³ Another study evaluated the effects of bovine, soybean, and egg-derived phosphatidylserine on behavioral tests in middle-aged rats.⁴ Rats were treated daily with a dose of 15 mg/kg of phosphatidylserine, or placebo. The results showed that phosphatidylserine from both bovine and soy was able to enhance mental functioning in rats undergoing an active avoidance task (a laboratory measure of learning ability).  No effect was seen in the groups given either the egg-derived phosphatidylserine or the control.

Another group of researchers looked at the effectiveness of soy compared to bovine phosphatidylserine in aged rats forced to perform a memory task known as the Morris water-maze test, a standardized lab measure of spatial memory function.⁵ The rats were fed soy derived phosphatidylserine at 60 mg/kg for 60 days. This significantly enhanced performance of the task by aged rats compared to control rats, indicating beneficial effects on memory function. The results were similar with PS from bovine cortex.

Scientists have suggested that phosphatidylserine protects brain tissue by a novel mechanism.⁶ A controlled study was done on rats where they were given phosphatidylserine injections at three different points in time.  They were then injected with placebo or LPS (lipopolysaccharide), a chemical agent known to have a negative effect on nerve transmission in a specific area of rat brains (the hippocampus).  Three hours later, rats were assessed for their ability to retain long-term potentiation (the long-term efficiency of nerve-to-nerve transmission, which is thought to be involved in storing information in the brain). At the end of the experiment, the hippocampal area of the rat brains was looked at. Pretreatment with PS helped the animals overcome the effects of LPS and support the health of brain tissue.  The rats treated with phosphatidylserine were also found to have higher levels of the protective anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 than control animals. They found that giving IL-10 also overcame the effects of LPS in a manner similar to phosphatidylserine. Thus the group of researchers concluded that one of the mechanisms of brain protection by phosphatidylserine may be its ability to increase IL-10 production.

Human Clinical Studies

A number of human clinical studies have also been conducted using phosphatidylserine to support healthy brain activity. In a review of the effects of phosphatidylserine supplementation, the authors suggest that phosphatidylserine may be effective at enhancing cognitive function and supporting mild memory problems associated with aging based on the results seen in both animal and human studies.⁷

One of the first double-blind controlled studies on PS was published in 1986, and consisted of 35 people with mild memory problems associated with aging taking either 100mg of animal derived PS three times per day or placebo.   The subjects were analyzed wit