Supports memory and cognitive function
Phosphatidylserine is a fatty molecule found in brain cell membranes. It’s often used in supplements for memory, focus, and stress support.
About Phosphatidylserine
What is Phosphatidylserine?
Phosphatidylserine belongs to the phospholipid family, a group of fats that form essential building blocks of cell membranes. It’s most concentrated in your brain, where it shapes how nerve cells connect and communicate. Your body makes some of it naturally, but you’ll also find small amounts in foods like soybeans or organ meats. Supplements deliver a concentrated dose for those looking to support mental clarity or offset mental fatigue.
Role in Cognitive Function
Many cognitive formulas include phosphatidylserine because of its central role in memory and attention. It keeps nerve cell membranes flexible and helps with the smooth flow of signals between cells. Some studies suggest it may help buffer the effects of stress by influencing how your body manages cortisol, the so-called “stress hormone.” This makes it a common choice not just for students or older adults but also for athletes and professionals facing daily pressure.
Formulation and Sources
Formulators generally favor plant-derived sources – like soy or sunflower – so most nootropic blends work across dietary lifestyles. You’ll often see phosphatidylserine listed alongside ingredients like Ginkgo biloba and L-theanine in capsule, powder, or even beverage form.
Applications in Supplement Formulas
Phosphatidylserine shows up most frequently in brain health and focus formulas – those aimed at memory or mental performance. You might spot it paired with B-vitamins or adaptogens as part of daily stacks for executives, students, or anyone seeking sharper thinking under stress. Because it’s key to nerve signaling, formulators sometimes include it in blends supporting gut-brain communication or hormonal balance as well.
Related Products
Formulated With
Learn about other ingredients that Phosphatidylserine is used alongside throughout the LVLUP range.
Detailed Information
Chemical and Biological Profile
Phosphatidylserine (PS), chemically characterized as 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine, is an anionic phospholipid predominantly located on the cytoplasmic leaflet of neuronal plasma membranes. In mammalian brains, PS accounts for 10–20% of total phospholipids, with highest enrichment observed in synaptic membranes and mitochondria. Its biosynthesis occurs via base-exchange reactions catalyzed by phosphatidylserine synthase enzymes (PSS1 and PSS2), primarily within endoplasmic reticulum subdomains associated with mitochondria (MAM).
Mechanisms of Action
PS is pivotal for maintaining membrane fluidity, curvature, and electrostatic potential – critical parameters for synaptic vesicle fusion and signal transduction. It serves as a cofactor for membrane-associated proteins including protein kinase C isoforms and plays a role in modulating neurotransmitter release (notably acetylcholine and dopamine). PS exposure on the outer leaflet is also involved in cellular recognition processes such as apoptosis via “eat-me” signaling.
Research and Supplementation
Exogenous PS supplementation has been investigated for its impact on cognitive domains like memory encoding/retrieval efficiency, processing speed, executive function, and stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses. Human trials show modulation of salivary cortisol post-acute stressor exposure with exogenous PS intake (typically 100–400 mg/day), suggesting underlying alterations in hippocampal feedback mechanisms.
Source and Safety
Supplemental PS is typically derived from soy lecithin or sunflower sources through enzymatic hydrolysis or solvent extraction methods; bovine-derived sources have been phased out due to prion transmission risks. The pharmacokinetic profile indicates preferential incorporation into erythrocyte and neural tissue membranes post-oral administration; however, blood-brain barrier transport kinetics remain incompletely characterized.
Synergies and Future Research
In advanced formulations targeting nootropic applications or neuroendocrine modulation (such as chronic stress management), PS’s synergy with cholinergic modulators (CDP-choline), mitochondrial cofactors (CoQ10), and adaptogenic botanicals is an evolving field of research interest.
