Phosphatidylserine Reduces Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction and Dementia

• Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipids component and can be found in the greatest quantities in innards (kidney, liver, brain.) It can also be found in dietary supplementation
• It has a positive effect in improving memory, improving concentration and decreasing the effects of stress
• PS lessens the rise of cortisol levels. Cortisol has the effect of increasing blood sugar

Phosphatidylserine (known as “PS”) is a phospholipid component. Phospholipids are a type of lipids that are a significant constituent of all biological membranes. They can be found in a number of different food sources, including meat and fish, but can be found in the greatest quantities in the innards such as the kidney and liver, and also in the brain. There are only small quantities of PS in vegetables (except white beans) and dairy products.

A number of scientific studies have been carried out on PS. Early research was carried out on PS derived from bovine brain, but research later began to centre around PS from soy beans due to concerns over BSE. Most commercially available PS products are now made from soy beans, and preliminary research has shown that PS products made from soy beans is at least as effective as products made from bovine brain.

Although there are some conflicting conclusions from the available research, there is sufficient consistency for the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to draw broad conclusions that “Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly” and “Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly”. Early research has also shown that PS may also be beneficial for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD).

In addition, numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that PS can have a positive effect in improving memory, increasing cognitive function, assisting with learning capability, improving mental acuity, improving concentration, relieving depression and/or having a positive effect on mood and decreasing the effects of stress.

In addition to assisting with cognitive function and memory, PS may also be useful as a form of sports nutrition. It has been shown to increase the rate of recovery and to prevent soreness in muscles in athletes. It has also been shown to have a positive effect on overall well-being and may have an ergogenic effect on athletes taking part in sports such as endurance running, cycling and resistance training. Ergogenic aids might have a direct influence over the physiological capacity of a particular system in the body. This can have the effect of improving athletic performance by removing the psychological constraints which might have an impact on performance. For example, PS has been shown in studies to improve the accuracy of golfers when they tee off by improving their resistance to stress. PS may also increase the rate that an athlete can recover from competition and training.

Studies have shown that PS can be an effective supplement for reducing the effects of exercise-induced stress. It can do this by lessening the rise in cortisol levels that is caused by exercise or exertion. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” and is produced by the adrenal gland. It has the effect of increasing blood sugar and blood pressure and it also reduces immune responses.

Dietary supplementation with PS may promote a desirable hormonal balance in those undertaking physical exercise and may also reduce the negative physiological effects that can be brought on by overstretching or overtraining.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.