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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.
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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 |