Phosphatidylserine

Also known as: PS, phosphatidyl serine, sunflower PS, soy PS, Sharp PS

Evidence under review. — Not yet rated

Brain phospholipid that may help with behavior and mood in kids; limited evidence for cognitive benefits.

What it does

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid naturally found in brain cell membranes. In children with ADHD, PS supplementation was associated with reductions in internalizing and externalizing...
Evidence quality

Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.
Clinical dose

100 mg/day based on available study data
Found in

Daily Cortisol Support, Vitabiotics Neuromind Plus, Alpha BRAIN (90 ct) and 7 more

What the Science Says

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid naturally found in brain cell membranes. In children with ADHD, PS supplementation was associated with reductions in internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems — including aggression — though it did not significantly improve core ADHD symptoms like attention or hyperactivity. In healthy children, 100 mg daily for 12 weeks showed no broad cognitive benefit, though children with below-average baseline performance showed some improvement in visuospatial memory.

What It Doesn't Do

Does not reliably improve core ADHD symptoms like attention or hyperactivity — a real ADHD medication outperformed it in head-to-head testing. No evidence it boosts cognition in healthy, average-performing children. Not a replacement for prescribed ADHD treatment. No data from these studies supporting memory or focus claims in adults.

Evidence-Based Benefits

Reduces aggressive and internalizing behaviors in children with ADHD over 3 months.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: Not specified in study (compared to atomoxetine arm)

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 41960234

May improve visuospatial memory in children who perform below average at baseline.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: 100 mg/day

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 41318468

Absorption & Bioavailability

Unknown based on provided studies — no pharmacokinetic data reported in the available papers

Red Flags to Watch For

PS did not improve core ADHD symptoms (attention, hyperactivity) in a clinical trial — do not use as a substitute for prescribed ADHD medication
Most cognitive benefits in children were only seen in a subgroup with below-median baseline performance, not the general population
Several papers in the provided dataset are unrelated to PS as a supplement (cancer research, toxicology), suggesting limited high-quality clinical evidence
Open-label trial design in the ADHD study introduces risk of bias — results should be interpreted cautiously

Supplement

Misleading

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Phosphatidylserine do?

Brain phospholipid that may help with behavior and mood in kids; limited evidence for cognitive benefits.

What is the effective dose of Phosphatidylserine?

100 mg/day based on available study data

Is Phosphatidylserine safe?

PS did not improve core ADHD symptoms (attention, hyperactivity) in a clinical trial — do not use as a substitute for prescribed ADHD medication

What doesn't Phosphatidylserine do?

Does not reliably improve core ADHD symptoms like attention or hyperactivity — a real ADHD medication outperformed it in head-to-head testing.

Research Sources

PubMed
NIH DSLD

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-05-25