Phosphatidylserine
Also known as: PS, Sharp PS, sunflower phosphatidylserine, soy phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyl serine
Effective Dosage
100 mg/day (children, limited data); 63 mg/day as part of combination (MCI adults); No single established dose from provided studies alone
What the Science Says
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid — a fat molecule — that makes up a key part of brain cell membranes. Clinical trials suggest it may improve short-term memory, arithmetic, and verbal reasoning in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, particularly when combined with omega-3 fatty acids. In healthy children, 100 mg daily for 12 weeks showed no broad cognitive benefit in the general group, though children with below-average baseline performance showed some improvement in visuospatial memory.
What It Doesn't Do
Not proven to boost cognition in healthy adults with normal memory. Won't reverse dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The children's study found no overall benefit — only a hint in kids already struggling. Most positive results come from combination supplements, so PS alone may not be the whole story. No evidence it builds muscle, burns fat, or detoxes anything.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Phosphatidylserine (PS) supplementation showed modest cognitive benefits in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) when combined with alpha-linolenic acid and Ginkgo flavonoids, improving arithmetic, similarity testing, and short-term memory over 12 months (PMID 39317299). In healthy children aged 8-12, 100 mg/day of sunflower-derived PS showed no significant effect on primary cognitive outcomes in the total cohort, though a pre-defined subgroup of lower-performing children showed benefit on visuospatial memory (PMID 41318468). PS also plays a structural role in cell membranes and is involved in thrombotic signaling via externalization on platelet and red blood cell surfaces (PMID 41935811, PMID 41809104).
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 100 mg/day (children, PMID 41318468); 63 mg/day as part of combination (PMID 39317299); No standalone dose established from provided studies alone
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown from provided studies — no pharmacokinetic data reported. PS is a fat-soluble phospholipid, so absorption is generally assumed to be better with food, but this was not directly measured in the provided trials.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Most positive cognitive studies used PS in combination with other ingredients (omega-3s, ginkgo, B vitamins), making it hard to isolate PS's contribution alone
- The children's RCT found no significant benefit in the overall healthy group — subgroup benefits should be interpreted cautiously
- Many supplements contain very low PS doses that may not match study doses
- PS externalization on cell membranes is associated with blood clotting risk in some biological contexts — people on blood thinners should consult a doctor before use
- Source matters: soy-derived vs. sunflower-derived PS may differ; the provided trial used sunflower-derived PS
Products Containing Phosphatidylserine
See how Phosphatidylserine is used in these analyzed products:
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: 2026-04-06