supplementNot FDA-approvedOTC supplementPhosphatidylserine is sold in the US as an over-the-counter dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA as a drug for any indicationA qualified health claim for phosphatidylserine and reduced risk of cognitive dysfunction has been reviewed by the FDA, but this reflects a marketing claim standard, not drug approval
PhosphatidylserineBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: PS
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of the cell membrane, particularly abundant in the brain. It is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of cell membranes, especially in nerve cells. Research on Phosphatidylserine focuses on cognition and mood.
How much Phosphatidylserine do people take?
300 mg/day (as part of a combined phosphatidylserine/ALA supplement) in the mild-cognitive-impairment cohort; 100 mg/day of sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine in the children's cognition trial; 750 mg/day of soy-derived phosphatidylserine in the exercise-endocrine trial. Route reported: Oral, as a capsule or softgel supplement in all three cited trials. Frequency reported: Once daily, taken with or without food across the cited trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Phosphatidylserine — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
See the full reported protocol and its sourcesResearched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
Evidence: Strong — 3 human randomized trials published.
Evidence strengthStrong · 4/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence
3 human randomized trials published.
Do all phosphatidylserine memory studies test the same product?
No. Sources and formulations differ, including older animal-derived material and modern plant-derived supplements. A result for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to every current product.
Source: Phosphatidylserine cognitive trial
Browse compound evidence cardsPlasma half-life
Not applicable
Typical timing
in the evening
Default unit
mg
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Phosphatidylserine in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the Phosphatidylserine entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]Effects of a food supplement containing phosphatidylserine on cognitive function in Chinese older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trialDuan H, Xu N, Yang T, et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders · 2025 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 39317299
- [2]The cognitive effects of supplementation with sunflower phosphatidyl serine in healthy children aged 8 to 12 years: a randomized controlled trialFriling M, Jackson PA, Kennedy D, et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2025 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 41318468
- [3]The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exerciseStarks MA, Starks SL, Kingsley M, Purpura M, Jäger R · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2008 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 18662395
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Phosphatidylserine dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Phosphatidylserine studied for?
What is Phosphatidylserine?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of the cell membrane, particularly abundant in the brain. It is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of cell membranes, especially in nerve cells. PS plays a key role in various cellular processes, including cell signaling, cell repair, and apoptosis (programmed cell death). While the human body can synthesize phosphatidylserine, it also obtains it from dietary sources. Early commercial phosphatidylserine supplements were often derived from bovine (cow) brain cortex. However, due to concerns about prion diseases, most modern supplements are now sourced from plant substances, typically soy or sunflower lecithin (National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements). PS is recognized for its potential role in supporting cognitive function, particularly in areas related to memory and learning.
What does the research say about Phosphatidylserine?
Tap a section to expand.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is integrated into the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, altering their fluidity and permeability. In neuronal cells, PS is critical for the release of neurotransmitters, facilitating nerve impulse transmission. It is involved in regulating various membrane-bound proteins, including receptors, enzymes, and ion channels. Specifically, PS has been shown to support the activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important for memory and learning. PS also plays a role in glucose metabolism in the brain, helping to ensure adequate energy supply for neuronal activity (PubChem). Furthermore, PS can influence the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, by modulating the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (Examine.com). This interaction may contribute to its potential effects on stress response and mood. The incorporation of PS into neuronal membranes can also enhance cell-to-cell communication and improve the efficiency of signaling pathways, which are vital for cognitive processes like memory formation and retrieval.
Source for this section: Sources for How does Phosphatidylserine work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Research into the benefits of phosphatidylserine primarily focuses on its role in cognitive function and stress management.
* **Cognitive Function:** Studies have investigated PS for its potential to support memory, learning, and overall cognitive performance, particularly in aging individuals. Some research indicates that PS may improve specific aspects of memory, such as short-term memory and the ability to recall information (National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements). It is thought to support neural membrane integrity and neurotransmitter activity crucial for cognitive processes.
* **Stress Response:** Phosphatidylserine has been studied for its ability to temper the body's response to stress. Some evidence suggests it may help to normalize cortisol levels in individuals experiencing psychological or physical stress, potentially contributing to a calmer physiological state (Examine.com). This effect could be beneficial for those who experience heightened stress reactions.
* **Exercise Recovery:** Limited research suggests PS might have a role in exercise-induced stress and recovery. Some studies have explored its potential to reduce muscle damage and soreness, and to modulate the physiological stress response following intense exercise, though more extensive research is needed to confirm these effects consistently across various populations (Examine.com).
It is important to note that while these areas show promise, individual responses to PS can vary, and further robust clinical trials are often warranted to solidify these findings.
Evidence regarding phosphatidylserine (PS) often stems from studies investigating its impact on cognitive decline and stress. For cognitive function, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including those referenced by the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, have examined the effects of PS on memory and other cognitive parameters in older adults experiencing age-associated cognitive impairment. These reviews often point to some evidence of benefit, particularly with consistent supplementation over several weeks or months. For instance, studies commonly utilize dosages studied at 100 mg three times daily (300 mg total daily) for cognitive support, though individual needs vary — talk to a licensed clinician.
Regarding stress response, several controlled trials have explored PS's potential to modulate cortisol levels and perceived stress. One area of interest is its impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body's central stress response system. While some studies suggest a moderating effect on cortisol (Examine.com), the extent and consistency of this benefit can vary depending on the population studied (e.g., healthy individuals vs. those with chronic stress) and the specific stressors involved. The duration and form of PS used in these studies are also critical variables, with typical dosages ranging from 300 to 400 mg per day across several administrations.
Evidence for exercise recovery is less extensive than for cognitive function. Some preliminary studies, often involving athletes, have looked at PS's ability to attenuate exercise-induced increases in cortisol and reduce perceived muscle soreness (Examine.com). These findings, while interesting, are generally considered exploratory and require replication in larger, more diverse cohorts to establish strong clinical recommendations.
Phosphatidylserine is generally considered well-tolerated when used appropriately. Potential side effects are typically mild and may include:
* Stomach upset
* Insomnia (especially if taken close to bedtime by sensitive individuals)
* Gas
These effects are generally infrequent and often resolve with dose adjustment or discontinuation. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Individuals with certain medical conditions should exercise caution when considering phosphatidylserine. Those with bleeding disorders or who are taking medications that affect blood clotting should be particularly careful, as PS may have mild anticoagulant properties. Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should avoid PS due to a lack of sufficient safety data. As with any supplement, individuals with pre-existing health conditions or those taking other medications should consult a healthcare professional before use. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Due to insufficient safety data, phosphatidylserine is generally contraindicated for:
* Pregnant individuals
* Breastfeeding individuals
No other commonly established contraindications are noted in major medical references. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Individuals taking certain medications or supplements should consider potential interactions with phosphatidylserine:
* **Anticoagulants/Antiplatelet Drugs:** PS may have mild anticoagulant effects, and combining it with blood thinners like warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, or NSAIDs could theoretically increase the risk of bleeding. Close monitoring by a healthcare professional is advisable if combining.
* **Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors:** PS may influence acetylcholine levels. While not a direct contraindication, individuals on medications that modulate acetylcholine (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine for Alzheimer's disease) should discuss PS use with their clinician to avoid potential additive effects.
This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Phosphatidylserine can be taken either with or without food. Some studies suggest taking it with meals for potentially better absorption. For cognitive benefits, it is often suggested to divide the daily amount into multiple doses (e.g., two to three times a day) to maintain more consistent levels in the body. If an individual experiences mild gastrointestinal upset, taking it with food may help. For individuals concerned about potential insomnia, taking the last dose earlier in the day might be considered, though for many, it does not noticeably affect sleep. Individual responses vary, making personalized timing important.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Phosphatidylserine?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Put it into practice
Reading about Phosphatidylserine is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.
What interacts with Phosphatidylserine?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any glp1 + supplement | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, changing how/when oral supplements absorb; rapid weight loss raises the importance of protein and micronutrients.Source pending | Time oral supplements when nausea is lowest; prioritize protein and micronutrients; discuss with your provider. |
| Any supplement + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Some supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist. |
Frequently asked questions about Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a supplement. It is also known as PS. What follows is drawn from peer-reviewed literature indexed on PubMed, FDA label text where a label exists, and NIH reference records.
Phosphatidylserine is commonly discussed in the context of supporting brain. Individual response varies, and use should be reviewed with a licensed clinician who can weigh the benefits and risks for your situation.
For Phosphatidylserine, it is typically taken in the evening. Always follow the specific dose your clinician or the product label prescribes.
Phosphatidylserine carries potential side effects and drug interactions, documented in NIH, Mayo Clinic, and FDA label sources. Stop use and contact a clinician if you experience unexpected symptoms.
Phosphatidylserine is a supplement, and interactions are possible with prescriptions, hormones, peptides and other supplements in the same routine. Because Phosphatidylserine is usually taken in the evening, most avoidable conflicts come from what else lands in that same window. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Phosphatidylserine with no sign-up.
Combining a supplement like Phosphatidylserine with TRT is usually a question of labs rather than a blanket yes or no: the ester, injection interval and any aromatase inhibitor all change the answer. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions
Each peptide class carries its own profile against Phosphatidylserine: a healing peptide raises different questions than a GLP-1 agonist or a growth-hormone secretagogue. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.
Published frequency for Phosphatidylserine varies by protocol and formulation, so the label or prescription is what sets it. It is typically taken in the evening. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps
The effect of a missed dose of Phosphatidylserine depends on the protocol and formulation you are on. Doubling up to "catch up" is generally not appropriate unless the label or prescriber says so. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.
For Phosphatidylserine the useful record is the dose, the time it was actually taken, and what else was taken in the same window. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.
No. Sources and formulations differ, including older animal-derived material and modern plant-derived supplements. A result for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to every current product.
No. The cited randomized trial did not demonstrate a clear benefit on its cognitive outcomes. New or worsening memory changes deserve assessment rather than relying on supplement marketing or an assumed effect.
300 mg/day (as part of a combined phosphatidylserine/ALA supplement) in the mild-cognitive-impairment cohort; 100 mg/day of sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine in the children's cognition trial; 750 mg/day of soy-derived phosphatidylserine in the exercise-endocrine trial. Route reported: Oral, as a capsule or softgel supplement in all three cited trials. Frequency reported: Once daily, taken with or without food across the cited trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Phosphatidylserine — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
Which studies looked at Phosphatidylserine?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Phosphatidylserine and the human brain(opens PubMed in a new tab)Nutrition · 2015 · PMID 25933483 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25933483/
- 2.Phosphatidylserine in the brain: metabolism and function(opens PubMed in a new tab)Prog Lipid Res · 2014 · PMID 24992464 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24992464/
- 3.The distribution and function of phosphatidylserine in cellular membranes(opens PubMed in a new tab)Annu Rev Biophys · 2010 · PMID 20192774 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20192774/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 9547096(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9547096
Verify at
Publisher search links for Phosphatidylserine. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DailyMed labeling archive(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Phosphatidylserine?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of the cell membrane, particularly abundant in the brain. It is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of cell membranes, especially in nerve cells. Research on Phosphatidylserine focuses on cognition and mood.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine cheat sheet
DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Supplement
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is a component of the cell membrane, particularly abundant in the brain. It is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of cell membranes, especially in nerve cells.
Evidence
Strong
3 human randomized trials published.
Studied range
300 mg/day (as part of a combined phosphatidylserine/ALA supplement) in the mild-cognitive-impairment cohort; 100 mg/day of sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine in the children's cognition trial; 750 mg/day of soy-derived phosphatidylserine in the exercise-endocrine trial
Route
Oral, as a capsule or softgel supplement in all three cited trials
Frequency studied
Once daily, taken with or without food across the cited trials
Timing
in the evening
Not FDA-approvedOTC supplementPhosphatidylserine is sold in the US as an over-the-counter dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA as a drug for any indicationA qualified health claim for phosphatidylserine and reduced risk of cognitive dysfunction has been reviewed by the FDA, but this reflects a marketing claim standard, not drug approvalBrain
Key references
- Effects of a food supplement containing phosphatidylserine on cognitive function in Chinese older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (2025)
- The cognitive effects of supplementation with sunflower phosphatidyl serine in healthy children aged 8 to 12 years: a randomized controlled trial (2025)
- The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise (2008)
Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/phosphatidylserine
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Phosphatidylserine — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/phosphatidylserine
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