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Phosphatidylserine

supporting cognitive function and stress response

supplement
Meta-analysis availableHuman trial evidenceTraditional useInteraction riskNeeds more research

Phospholipid supporting memory, focus, and cortisol regulation.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of cell membranes, particularly abundant in the brain. It plays a crucial role in cell signaling and maintaining cellular function. While the body can produce some phosphatidylserine, it can also be obtained through diet. It has been investigated for its potential role in cognitive function and stress response. Early research suggests it may support memory, learning, and mood, particularly in aging populations or individuals experiencing stress. However, more robust research is needed to confirm these potential benefits and establish optimal use.

Quick answer

What it is: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of cell membranes, particularly abundant in the brain.

May support:ADHD

Evidence Summary

The current understanding of phosphatidylserine's effects is largely based on preliminary research, including in vitro studies, animal models, and some human clinical trials. While these studies suggest potential benefits, the lack of a comprehensive body of high-quality, large-scale human trials prevents a definitive conclusion on efficacy. The evidence grade is conservative due to this gap.

Last reviewed · Jun 2026

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Why It Works

Membrane component; blunts HPA-axis cortisol response.

How it works in more detail

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an anionic phospholipid primarily located on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in healthy cells. It is essential for maintaining membrane integrity and fluidity, which are critical for various cellular processes, including neurotransmitter release, receptor function, and enzyme activity. PS is involved in the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and other signaling pathways. In the brain, it is thought to support neuronal membrane function, facilitate glucose metabolism, and promote the production of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and dopamine, which are important for memory and learning. It also plays a role in the regulation of cortisol, a stress hormone, potentially by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

How to use

Always consult a qualified clinician.

Editorial guidance

Suggested dosage
100–300 mg/day
Frequency
Once daily
With or without food
With food

To enhance absorption and reduce potential gastrointestinal discomfort

Research dosage range
Studies have used dosages ranging from 100 mg to 800 mg per day, with some cognitive studies utilizing 300 mg daily and stress-related studies exploring higher doses.
Typical onset
Effects, particularly related to cognitive function or stress response, may become noticeable after several weeks of consistent daily use, typically ranging from 2 to 12 weeks.
Dosing citations
Typical forms
capsule, softgel
Quality markers
Look for products that specify the source of phosphatidylserine (e.g., sunflower, soy lecithin). Ensure the product is third-party tested for purity and potency, and free from heavy metals and contaminants. Check for clear labeling of the active compound amount.
Medication interactions
  • Anticoagulants (blood thinners)
Avoid if
  • pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient data)
  • taking blood thinners (potential interaction, consult doctor)

Community tips

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Suggested dosage

100–300 mg/day
Sources:[1]RCT[2]RCT[3]Meta-analysis

Active medicinal compounds

The primary active compound is phosphatidylserine (PS).

Traditional use

Phosphatidylserine itself does not have a history of traditional use as a standalone remedy in traditional medicine systems, as it was identified and isolated through modern biochemical research.

Safety

Safety warnings

Mild GI upset possible.

Avoid if

  • pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient data)
  • taking blood thinners (potential interaction, consult doctor)

Medication interactions

  • Anticoagulants (blood thinners)

Reported side effects

  • mild stomach upset
  • insomnia (rare, at high doses)
Sources:[1]RCT[2]RCT[3]Meta-analysis

Evidence ecosystem

Scientific literature, clinical guidance, government sources, ongoing research, traditional use, and lived experience — grouped by source type and quality.

Overall grade

The current understanding of phosphatidylserine's effects is largely based on preliminary research, including in vitro studies, animal models, and some human clinical trials. While these studies suggest potential benefits, the lack of a comprehensive body of high-quality, large-scale human trials prevents a definitive conclusion on efficacy. The evidence grade is conservative due to this gap.

Filter by source type

Meta-Analyses(1)

Pooled analyses across multiple human trials.

Very High Quality

  • Safety and efficacy of antioxidant therapy in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

    Zhou P, Yu X, Song T, Hou X · PloS one · 2024 · n=650

    To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of antioxidant therapy in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Randomized controlled trials and prospective studies on antioxidant therapy in children and adolescents with ADHD were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from the inception of databases to November 12, 2022. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. Network meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number CRD 42023382824) was carried out by using R Studio 4.2.1. 48 studies involving 12 antioxidant drugs (resveratrol, pycnogenol, omega-3, omega-6, quercetin, phosphatidylserine, almond, vitamin D, zinc, folic acid, ginkgo biloba, Acetyl-L-carnitine) were finally included, with 3,650 patients. Network meta-analysis showed that omega-6 (0.18), vitamin D (0.19), and quercetin (0.24) were the top three safest drugs according to SUCRA. The omega-3

    Meta-AnalysisPubMedVery High Quality

Observational Studies(1)

Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional human studies.

Moderate Quality

  • Multi-omics identifies lipid accumulation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cell lines: a case-control study.

    Missailidis D, Armstrong CW, Anderson D, Allan CY, Sanislav O, Smith PK · Journal of translational medicine · 2026

    In recent years, evidence has indicated a metabolic shift towards increased demand for lipids in various lymphoid cell populations from people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). We previously screened the mitochondrial function and gene expression of B cell-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) generated from the blood of people with ME/CFS to characterise a model for hypothesis discovery and testing, observing elevated expression of gene products facilitating amino acid and fatty acid degradation for energy. In this follow-up study we have expanded this characterisation by profiling the polar metabolomes and non-polar lipidomes of an all-female cohort of 17 healthy control and 15 ME/CFS LCLs, and we integrated this new data with the previously generated proteomic and transcriptomic data. In the polar metabolome we detected no significantly altered individual features, while integrated multi-omic analysis by MetaboAnalyst indicated 15 dysregulated pa

    Observational StudyPubMedModerate Quality

Clinical Trial Registries(1)

Registered ongoing or completed trials (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Moderate Quality

  • Anti-phospholipid Antibodies in Adult Patients With Different Clinical Manifestations of Lyme Borreliosis

    n=240 · NCT06929546 · NOT_YET_RECRUITING · NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Background Lyme borreliosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Ixodes tick. B. burgdorferi sensu lato accumulates intact phospholipids from its environment to support its growth. Several of these environmentally acquired phospholipids including phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid may be recognized by anti-phospholipid antibodies that are believed to arose early in infection. Here we aimed to investigate the levels of anti-phospholipid antibodies in patients with Lyme borreliosis. Methods Participants included in the study: * 150 patients with well-defined Lyme borreliosis, of which 30 presented with solitary erythema migrans (EM), 30 with multiple EM (MEM), 30 with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), 30 with Lyme arthritis (LA), 30 with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA); * 50 patients with nonspecific symptoms and positive borrelial antibodies in serum; and * 40 healthy blood donors (control group; samples from healthy blood donors were used to determine the threshold for the assays). Specimens: * 4 serum samples from each individual patient with well-defined Lyme borreliosis (1 before antibiotic treatment, 3 during follow-up up to 1 year); * 2 serum samples from patients with nonspecific symptoms and positive borrelial antibodies (1 before antibiotic treatment and one 3 months later); * healthy blood donors: 1 serum specimen. Anti-phospolipid antibodies: Levels of IgG and IgM isotypes of 4 anti-phospholipid antibodies including anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-phosphatidylserine (aPS), anti-phosphatidic acid (aPA) and anti-phosphatidylcholine (aPC) will be analyzed with in-house ELISAs.

    Clinical TrialClinicalTrials.govModerate Quality

Limitations: Key limitations include the relatively small number of large-scale, well-controlled human clinical trials. Many studies are of short duration, involve specific populations (e.g., elderly individuals with cognitive decline), or use varying formulations and dosages, making it difficult to generalize findings. There is also a need for more research to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action in humans.

This page is educational. Statements use phrases like "may support" and "has been studied for"because no remedy here is approved to cure, treat, or reverse any condition. Discussion happens on the ailment pages — community statistics here are derived from those reports. Always consult a qualified clinician.

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