Phosphatidylserine is a new wonder drug recommended by health-food manufacturers for its efficacy in everything from aiding in increased sexual stamina for men, to easing symptoms of children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There is also some evidence that phosphatidylserine (or PS) may aid the brain’s ability to retain memory and strengthen the body’s tolerance for exercise. Initial studies suggest that PS lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol during workouts. Another benefit is that PS is legal to consume as a nutritional supplement for professional athletes.

Medical studies on PS chemicals only began in 1990, so no long term studies have been completed. PS has opened many doors of exciting new research that may eventually help with managing a variety of medical conditions over time. Some scientists such as chemist Andrew Hamilton, BSC, MRSC, believe that PS may be a tonic to prevent certain types of dementia and help encourage individuals to build up their own immune system by making exercise less painful. Hamilton claims that there are no documented negative side effects of PS.

Studies have advanced quickly enough for the US government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant qualified health claim status to the substance in 2003. This means that any manufacturer or seller of PS could advertise the beneficial effects of PS with early types of dementia in elderly patients. But manufacturers cannot claim PS can cure dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It is unknown when and if the FDA may grant another ‘qualified health status’ for adding physical endurance.

What Is PS?

Every cell in a plant or animal body contains PS. The cell needs PS in the membranes to help hormones communicate with one another. The cell membrane is the semi-solid wall that separates one cell from another. Cells communicate with each other by releasing chemicals from their membranes, which then encounter chemicals such as PS, which either recognize and accept the chemical inside the membrane or refuse it entry.

PS is found in brain or inner organ tissue more often than anywhere else, possibly because these organs require more hormones than other parts of the body.

Andrew Hamilton also states that living body cells may be able to store excess PS in times of need, such as when the body is stressed during vigorous exercise. This excess PS is not used in the cell membrane but instead uses the cell as a medium to help in absorbing and synthesizing such essential nutrients as potassium, calcium and sodium. This helps the cell work faster while the PS in the membranes assist all the cells to communicate more efficiently.

Medical Controversy

The first clinical studies of PS were conducted with the brains of dead cows. But after outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (more commonly known as ‘mad cow disease’) researchers switched from cow brains to PS harvested from soybeans. Researchers are still reluctant to use cow tissue because of the public’s fear of ‘mad cow disease’ and the rise in vegetarianism, where consumers are consciously trying to avoid the use of any product requiring animal deaths. There is also a concern that animal tissue could rot faster than vegetable tissue and thus introduce viruses or other dangerous bacteria into a medication.

PS from cow brains and PS from soybeans are obviously not identical substances, however, a study confirmed that soybean and chicken egg-derived PS behaved in the same manner as cow brain-PS. (’Cognition-enhancing properties of subchronic phosphatidylserine (PS) treatment in middle-aged rats: comparison of bovine cortex PS with egg PS and soybean PS.’ A. Blokland, et al.; ‘Nature’; Oct. 1999.) Not all medical institutions are convinced that both substances are sufficiently the same. For example, the Mayo Clinic’s official position on phosphatidylserine is that ‘more research is needed’.

Conventional medicine does not often endorse nutritional or multivitamin supplements because the manufacturing standards are considered lower than what would normally be required for conventional pharmaceuticals. The health supplements industry is also a self-regulating industry. Alternative medicine practitioners point out that, even with government regulation, many dangerous drugs from pharmaceutical companies have been released to the general public over the years. Still, reputable complementary and alternative medicine practitioners urge patients to talk to their doctors before trying a supplement like PS. Individuals taking blood thinning medication or medicinal doses of vitamin E should avoid PS supplements altogether.

Sport Controversy

Even if PS does not stop pain and even if it does not improve athletic performance, could PS still be considered a performance-enhancing drug if it is proven to help amateur and professional athletes achieve enhanced endurance? This depends upon the individual sport, but generally the answer would be yes, unless the argument is made that since caffeine is an allowable substance, why not PS? Caffeine does momentarily make athletes more alert, but the effect shortly wears off. The weekend warrior could not take a pill and suddenly sprint past a race horse.

Golf may be one sport that would ban PS, if results of this 2008 study are be reproduced. Golfers in good health that took PS for six weeks were able to tee off more accurately, and further. (’The effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performance.’ Jager, R. et al.; ‘Journal of the International Science of Sports Nutrition.’ Dec. 2007). Another sport that might consider a ban would be road cycling, because they are even considering banning caffeine after numerous dope-scandals damaged the prestige of the Tour de France. This is one reason why chemists and sports enthusiasts like Andrew Hamilton are urging athletes to try PS now before public paranoia sets in.

Conclusion

There are some fascinating short-term studies that support the theory that phosphatidylserine (PS) can help with sports training. PS is legal, is now made from non-animal sources like soy and cabbage, but can be pricey. It has no known negative side effects except for making the blood thin slightly, which should not have an effect upon healthy individuals.

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