Phosphatidylserine Benefits
updated on Feb 19, 2008
What is phosphatidylserine?
Phosphatidylserine is a member of phospholipids; it plays an important
role in cellular composition. In healthy subjects, phosphatidylserine is
at high concentrations in the brain. Researchers believe that
phsophatidylserine may contribute benefits for our brain functions or
cognitive performance. It may also retard certain neurological
disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, though phosphatidylserine is
not a cure for Alzheimer's disease. This article summarize a few
interesting research findings on its health claims.
What studies have been done to demonstrate its possible health
benefits?
Early Animal Studies
In 1987, an Italian scientist, Valzelli L, from Instituto di Ricerche
Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Italy, noticed the neurochemical and
behavioral changes during aging. He and his group performed intra-
cerebral injection of bovine brain phosphatidylserine on two different
groups of mice, they found that bovine brain phosphatidylserine
improved performances in the subtype of mice with poor exploratory
activity [1987 Oct;9(10):657-60].
Two years later (in 1989), another Italian research group, Fagioli S et
al at Universita di Roma reported that Phosphatidylserine
administration during postnatal development improves memory in
adult C57BL/6 mice. They considered the findings were related to the
effects of phosphatidylserine on cholinergic mechanisms. [Neurosci
Lett. 1989 Jun 19;101(2):229-33]
In the same year (i.e. 1989), Valzelli L et al, Fidia Research
Laboratories, Italy reported that Chronic phosphatidylserine treatment
improves spatial memory and passive avoidance in aged rats. As
assessed in the Morris water maze test, old rats showed a variable
loss of spatial memory. Old non-impaired rats performed as well as
young subjects, while old impaired rats exhibited a severe and
persistent place-navigation deficit. Passive avoidance retention was
similarly affected in the two old subpopulations. 12 weeks oral
administration of phosphatidylserine, phospholipid, was found to
improve both the spatial memory and the passive avoidance retention
of aged impaired rats. [Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1989;99(3):316-
21].
Early Clinical Studies
In 1991, Crook TH et al at Memory Assessment Clinics, Inc, MD, treated
149 patients meeting criteria for age-associated memory impairment
(AAMI) for 12 weeks with a formulation of phosphatidylserine (100 mg
BC-phosphatidylserine three times a day) or placebo. Patients treated
with the phosphatidylserine improved relative to those treated with
placebo on performance tests related to learning and memory tasks of
daily life. Analysis of clinical subgroups suggested that persons within
the sample who performed at a relatively low level prior to treatment
were most likely to respond to BC-phosphatidylserine. Within this
subgroup, there was improvement on both computerized and standard
neuropsychological performance tests, and also on clinical global
ratings of improvement. Consequently, the researchers suggested
that the phosphatidylserine may be a promising candidate for
treating memory loss in later life [Neurology. 1991 May;41(5):644-9].
Two years later (in 1993), Cenacchi T et al at Fidia Research
Laboratories, Italy, conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-
center study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration for
cognitive decline in the elderly. This clinical study involved a total of
494 patients aged 65-93 with moderate to severe cognitive decline
(based on Mini Mental State Examination and Global Deterioration
Scale). It is a six months study. The efficacy of phosphatidylserine
treatment was based on the changes in behavior and cognitive
performance using the Plutchik Geriatric Rating Scale and the Buschke
Selective Reminding Test. They found Statistically significant
improvements in the phosphatidylserine-treated group compared to
placebo were observed both in terms of behavioral and cognitive
parameters. They also reported that phosphatidylserine was well
tolerated. [Aging (Milano) 1993(5):123–33]
One year afterward (in 1994), Heiss WD et al, Max-Planck-Institut fur
neurologische Forschung, reported that phosphatidylserine treatment
has an effect on different measures of brain function in the journal
Dementia. They conducted a study with 70 patients with probable
Alzheimer's disease. They randomly allocated these patients into four
groups: 17 patients received only social support, 18 cognitive training
twice a week, in 17 cognitive training was combined with pyritinol 2 x
600 mg/day and in 18 cognitive training was combined with
phosphatidylserine 2 x 200 mg/day. They tested the patients
underwent neuropsychological testing as well as measurement of the
regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose using positron emission
tomography and 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose before and after
treatment. They found that the neuropsychological improvements were
best documented after 8 and 16 weeks. And, this improvement faded
towards the end of the treatment period. Consequently, they
concluded that phosphatidylserine could provide mainly of short-
term benefit.
RECENT ANIMAL STUDY
In 2001, a Japanese research group (lead by Suzuki S, Yakult Central
Institute for Microbiological Research) prepared Soybean lecithin
transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine from soybean lecithin and L-
serine. They continuously administrated aged rates with
transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine and found the
transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine significantly improved
performance in the water maze escape test. transphosphatidylated
phosphatidylserine also increased acetylcholine release and the Na
(+), K(+)-ATPase activity. [J Nutr. 2001 Nov;131(11):2951-6]
RECENT CLINICAL STUDY
Jorissen BL et al at Brain & Behaviour Institute, The Netherlands, We
reported the results of a clinical trial of soybean-derived
phosphatidylserine in aging subjects with memory complaints. The
subjects were 120 elderly (>57 years) with age-associated memory
impairment and/or age-associated cognitive decline. They were
allocated at random to one of the three treatment groups: placebo,
300mg soybean-derived phosphatidylserine daily, or 600mg soybean-
derived phosphatidylserine daily. Tests of learning and memory, choice
reaction time, planning and attentional functions were administered
periodically. They found that no significant differences were found in
any of the outcome variables between the treatment groups and no
significant interactions between treatment and 'severity of memory
complaints'. [Nutr Neurosci. 2001;4(2):121-34].
COMMENT
It seems that there may be health benefits associated with
phosphatidylserine, however, more studies are needed to draw the
conclusion.
NOTE
The information above is for your reference only. If you have any
question, you should consult your doctor immediately.