Best Phosphatidyl Serine provides the essential brain nutrient
phosphatidylserine in a matrix of other phospholipids and
cofactors. Phosphatidylserine and other phospholipids are
structural components of brain neurons that can enhance
cell-to-cell communication.* Studies have shown the ability of
supplemental phosphatidylserine to support healthy cognitive
function.* It may enhance healthy memory and thinking ability by
facilitating neuronal communication.* It may also support the
body during stressful times. * Best Phosphatidylserine
contains phosphatidylserine and other essential nutritional
cofactors in a liquid softgel, providing added stability to
these key phospholipid molecules.
Ingredients
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Benefits
· 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 with tests designed to
assess problems found in activities of daily life. They were
tested after one week and six weeks of taking the supplement,
and then three weeks after discontinuing. Although statistical
significance was reached only in one test (The Peri Scale, a
measure of mood, cognitive function, behavior and activities of
daily living), the subjects taking the PS showed positive trends
towards improvement on all three tests compared to the
controls.8
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study
looked at 149 people supplementing with phosphatidylserine over
6 months. The subjects were given 200mg of PS or placebo orally
for 3 months. Nine standard tests for brain function were used
to analyze the subjects before and after the treatment, and then
again at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months (after discontinuing the
treatment). They found that in the group most impacted by
memory problems associated with aging there was a benefit of PS
on a number of the cognitive tests performed, even up to 6
months after the discontinuation of the supplement.9
In
another study, phosphatidylserine was given to 494 elderly
patients who had mild memory problems associated with aging.
They were given 300 mg per day or placebo for six months. The
individuals were examined at the beginning of the study, after
three months of supplementation, and at six months.10 Using a
standardized scale to assess changes in behavior and cognitive
function, they found statistically significant enhancement of
cognitive function in the group who took phosphatidylserine.
There didn’t appear to be any side effects associated with the
use of phosphatidylserine in this study.
A similar but
shorter placebo-controlled study again looked at the
effectiveness of phosphatidylserine in individuals with mild
memory problems associated with aging. It involved 163 patients
who again took 100 mg phosphatidylserine three times daily.
They took the supplement for 12 weeks, and were evaluated every
three weeks. The benefits they found included enhancement of
memory and name recall, learning, and ability to concentrate
compared to the control group. The subjects tolerated the
phosphatidylserine well and no side effects were reported.11
Yet another trial, this one open-label (both the health provider
and subjects were aware of the supplement given) looked at
phosphatidylserine derived from plant sources on 15 people with
mild memory problems associated with aging. The study lasted
for 12 weeks, and the participants were evaluated by standard
memory and learning tests 3 times (at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12
weeks). They were all given 100mg of PS, in PS enriched
lecithin capsules, three times per day. They found that the
subjects performed significantly better on most of the tests
after supplementing with PS compared to before supplementation,
and 9 subjects reported improvement of their memory in day to
day tasks. Although this study was open-label, the results fit
in well with previous studies using phosphatidylserine.12
· Supports the body during mental and physical stress*
A number of small studies have emerged that have shown positive
effects of PS supplementation on the stress response. The
majority of the studies have looked at the effects on stress
induced from physical exertion, although one study in 2001
looked at the effects on mental stress in 48 male university
students. These students were given either 300mg of PS or
placebo for 30 days. Baseline and post-supplementation
measurements of mood, neuroticism and extroversion were assessed
by questionnaire, and vital signs were taken. After 30 days,
the students were given a standard acute stress test involving a
difficult time-limited mathematical calculation, and then
measurements were taken a third time. The sub-group of
students who were rated more “neurotic” experienced
significantly less stress and better mood under the pressure by
taking PS compared to placebo.13
A further crossover
study of 8 healthy men looked at the effects of an acute dose of
PS on hormonal responses after physical stress. The men
underwent physical exercise between 8:30 and 9:30am after an
overnight fast. They were each tested 3 times in a crossover
fashion with a one-week interval between testing. Blood
samples were taken before exercise, and were followed by an
intravenous injection of either placebo, 50 mg of PS, or 75 mg
of PS. Subsequent blood samples were taken during and after
exercise. The secretion of both cortisol and ACTH (the
pituitary hormone that regulates cortisol) were significantly
blunted after exercise by supplementation with
phosphatidylserine, as compared to placebo. Other hormones,
including norepinephrine, epinephrine, growth hormone, and
dopamine were not affected by phosphatidylserine
supplementation.14 The author showed a similar significant
response of oral PS on cortisol and ACTH after exercise stress
in 9 healthy men. Subjects took 800 mg of phosphatidylserine or
placebo orally for 10 days in a double-blind, randomized
cross-over study.15
In another investigation, eleven fit
male subjects with at least 4 years of weight training
experience were given 800mg of phosphatidylserine or placebo for
two weeks in a cross-over study.16 During this time they were
involved in eight intensive weight lifting sessions over the two
weeks. Although resting cortisol levels did not differ
throughout the training in the phosphatidylserine versus the
placebo groups, the post-exercise level of cortisol was
significantly lower in the PS group. ACTH was not affected by
phosphatidylserine supplementation in this study. The PS
significantly enhanced the perception of well-being and lowered
ratings of muscle soreness in response to the severe
over-training they underwent during the study. The severity of
the training was confirmed by increases in creatine kinase (a
measure of damage to the muscles) in both groups.
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Safety
A group of researchers reported on the
excellent safety profile of soy derived PS.17 In this study,
they found no significant differences between treatment and
control groups when they looked at a number of blood safety
parameters, vital signs, and subjective complaints. Thus they
concluded that PS is a safe nutritional supplement for the
elderly at least up to 600mg per day in divided doses, and
further studies in humans are needed to clarify the exact role
phosphatidylserine supplementation may play on cognitive
function.
Each softgel of Best Phosphatidylserine
provides 100 milligrams of brain-protective phosphatidylserine
in a matrix of other important phospholipid cofactors to support
healthy brain function. Research conducted over the last two
decades supports the ability of phosphatidylserine
supplementation to provide building blocks for healthy neurons,
enhance cognitive function, provide support for mild memory
problems associated with aging, and support for both mental and
physical derived stress. *
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