Have you heard about the many benefits of Phosphatidylserine for your brain and wondering whether you should use this supplement?
Anyone who is interested in keeping their body up to its top level of performance realizes the need for proper supplementation. Certainly the food we eat goes a long way, but this is not the only answer.
Just like the rest of our bodies, the brain needs to be nutritionally supported as well. Even adding just a few key nutrients can go a long way in terms of helping to keep you sharp and focused.
Nootropics, a class of supplements that aim to help improve the mind, are some of these needed nutrients which can support a healthy and efficient brain. Phosphatidylserine is one of these supplements that claims to make a big difference in terms of cognitive performance and overall brain health.
But does it actually live up to these claims? What is Phosphatidylserine, how does it work, which benefits are offered, and is it actually safe?.



- Supports memory function & cognition
- Boosts neuron health & communication
- May improve mood, sleep & relaxation
What Is Phosphatidylserine:
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From a technical standpoint, this supplement is a negatively charged aminophospholipid – a type of fat which makes up between 2 and 10 percent of all the fat cells within the human body.
Phosphatidylserine is actually found in every cell of the body with an estimated 60 grams present in your body right now.
Approximately half of this total is found in the brain (primarily in the cell membranes of neurons).
The average daily intake from food in western countries is approximately 130 mg. As a supplement, this has only really been available in North America since the mid 1990’s.
Previously, this was obtained from the brains of cows (noted as BC-Phosphatidylserine). Current production methods use soy as their main source.
How Does Phosphatidylserine Work?
The first thing to understand about this supplement is the fact that it is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier quite easily. Once this happens, Phosphatidylserine binds with neurotransmitters and enables the brain to metabolize glucose more efficiently.
This supplement also helps to heighten communication between brain cells. It can increase the fluidity of cell membranes in neurons that had been previously damaged or were suffering signs of age.
These neurons then become rejuvenated and capable of receiving and sending messages at a faster rate again. Phosphatidylserine also enables the brain to more easily restore its supply of the key neurotransmitter Acetylcholine.
There is also evidence suggesting that the supplement helps the brain to produce more Dopamine, another key neurotransmitter which is important in a variety of cognitive processes such as mood.
Benefits Of Phosphatidylserine:
The main benefit of Phosphatidylserine is that it will work to boost memory and overall cognition. This also includes an expansion of learning capacity and even an improved speed of memory recall in many cases.
A number of users also indicate that supplementation helps to give them more mental energy along with improved focus and concentration.
The benefits of this supplement are considered to be long-term and it may even slow down the aging process on your brain.
Phosphatidylserine can also be very reparative if you have previously experienced head trauma, stroke, heavy alcohol use or substance abuse.
There are also a number of therapeutic benefits to this supplement. It has been used as an effective treatment for ADD and ADHD as well as bipolar disorders. There is also a lot of evidence showing that this is effective at reducing stress and anxiety levels.
In fact, due to the increase in Dopamine production it is also quite likely to be responsible for inducing an overall feeling of well-being and improving one’s mood in general. The Dopamine has even been shown essential to memory, attention, and problem solving abilities.
Safety Of Phosphatidylserine:
There have already been a large number of human tests and studies related to Phosphatidylserine. It has been well validated with a flawless safety record through both clinical research and standard toxicology tests.
The supplement has been proven compatible with a wide range of medications. These include everything from antacids to diuretics to calcium channel blockers and even chemotherapy medication.
It is also well-tolerated not only by healthy adults but also elderly patients with heart disease, high blood pressure, and a number of other medical conditions and issues.
In other words, nearly anyone can safely take this supplement. There have been a few side effects associated with this supplement, although they are generally quite rare and mild. These can include insomnia and stomach upset or other GI issues.
Phosphatidylserine Dosage:
Obviously, you want to stay away from the bovine-brain derived versions of this supplement (Relax, they are no longer available in the US anyway). All of the Phosphatidylserine powder or capsules sold today typically come from soy sources and are vegetarian friendly.
The recommended dosage range for Phosphatidylserine is between 100 and 500 mg per day. As usual, start at the low end of this range and only increase as it becomes necessary and you are familiar with the effects and benefits.
You will find 50 mg of Phosphatidylserine in a single Alpha Brain pill from Onnit Labs. The reason they use less than this recommended dosage is because Alpha Brain also contains several other cognitive enhancement ingredients that synergize well with Phosphatidylserine so a smaller dose is required.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
4 Comments
One of the side effects mentioned is stomach upset or other GI issues. Does that mean that someone who has been diagnosed with stomach cancer should avoid this medicine?
Hi Rubina,
You should check with your doctor to determine whether this is appropriate for you or not. The Natural Medicines Database does not note a contraindication for individuals diagnosed with stomach cancer, but because some people do experience digestive discomfort it is always recommended to consult with a doctor first!
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My husband now take phosphatydalserine. He has trouble from concussion injury and I have autoimmune Sjogrens Sydrome with chronic depression. I am unable to tolerate antidepressants. We are 73. What would you recommend?
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