iPod generation interpretation of phosphatidyl serine

Here is a pretty good information site about the composition of PS.

The iPod generation likes to simplify human chemistry into marketable bite-sized morsels.

Unfortunately, nothing in the body works alone. Everything is interconnected, and no substance has only one function.

As demonstrated in this article you can see that with PS there are 100's of uses, interconnected with every system in the body.

Anyone who is working with PS should immediately look to the myelin sheathing of nerve tissue. This is where its main action takes place.

If you encounter an iPod generation evangelist rattling their mouths on and on about how they understand how PS works and never mention demyelinization then you know for a fact that said person knows not of which they speak.

CLUE: what substances are known to demyelinate nerve tissue?



http://www.hyperhealth.com/demo/phosphatidylserine.htm

Phosphatidylserine
Also known as: PS; PtdSer

Description
Phosphatidylserine is a Phosphoglyceride Phospholipid that occurs naturally in the Brain and is also synthetically manufactured for use as a supplement.

Composition of Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a combination of these substances:

Essential Fatty Acid Monounsaturated or Saturated Fatty Acid Mineral Acid Lipid Alcohol Amino Acid
Linoleic Acid

or

Alpha-Linolenic Acid

or

DHA

+ Stearic Acid

or

Palmitic Acid

or

Oleic Acid

or

Arachidonic Acid
+ Phosphoric Acid + Glycerol + Serine

Health Benefits of Phosphatidylserine
Cardiovascular System
Phosphatidylserine helps to prevent Atherosclerosis (by mediating the removal of dead cells in vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Phagocytes). research
Phosphatidylserine helps to prevent Hypertension. research

Cells
Phosphatidylserine concentrates in Cell Membranes where it is intricately involved in the repair of, strength, permeability, elasticity and maintenance of the structural integrity of all of the body's Cell Membranes (especially those of the Brain’s Neurons, i.e. the Myelin Sheaths): research

- In Myelin Sheaths, Phosphatidylserine is the dominant Phospholipid - it appears to be important for anchoring Proteins in Myelin Sheaths.

Immune System
Phosphatidylserine can activate cells of the Immune System:

- Phosphatidylserine enhances the ability of Phagocytes to remove dead cells from vascular Smooth Muscle cells. research

Metabolism
Phosphatidylserine enhances the health-status of people who engage in intensive Exercise (it reduces the endogenous release of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) and Cortisol normally caused by the Stress associated with intensive Exercise). research

Nervous System
Phosphatidylserine improves the Memory and Mood of people afflicted with Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) - it is estimated that supplemental PS may reverse approximately 12 years worth of Memory decline: research

- In one human study of Phosphatidylserine for AAMI, 300 mg of Phosphatidylserine per day for 12 weeks caused maximum improvement in those people with the worst Memory impairment. The improvement in Memory was sustained for up to one month after the cessation of Phosphatidylserine treatment.
Phosphatidylserine is presently under investigation as a possible treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Phosphatidylserine (300 - 400 mg per day) alleviates many of the symptoms associated with early Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: research

- Studies have shown that 300 mg of PS per day for 8 weeks restores the EEG patterns of Alzheimer’s Disease patients to normal, whilst 400 mg of PS per day improves Brain Glucose metabolism, normalizes EEG patterns and improves cognition.
Phosphatidylserine increases the generation of Alpha Waves in the Brain by 15 - 20% ( indicating elevated Acetylcholine/Cholinergic activity in the Brain).
Phosphatidylserine reduces Apathy (especially in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment).
Phosphatidylserine improves Attention Span (especially in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment).
Phosphatidylserine concentrates in the Brain and is the major Phospholipid in the Myelin Sheaths of the Brain’s Neurons (the Brain contains the body’s highest concentrations of PS).
Phosphatidylserine improves Concentration (especially in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment).
Phosphatidylserine prevents the age-associated decline in the number of Dendrites within the Brain. research
Phosphatidylserine (300 - 400 mg per day for 30 - 60 days) very effectively alleviates Depression - especially in elderly subjects. research
Phosphatidylserine helps to stabilize Brain Wave patterns in Epilepsy patients.
Phosphatidylserine improves the Brain's utilization and metabolism of Glucose.
Phosphatidylserine inhibits the decline in the function of the Hippocampus that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process. research
Phosphatidylserine increases Intelligence.
Phosphatidylserine (200 mg per day) improves Learning ability in normal, healthy subjects:

- Phosphatidylserine prevents the decline in Learning capacity that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.
Phosphatidylserine improves Memory (especially in people affected by Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI)): research

- Phosphatidylserine improves Short Term Memory. In one study, persons aged 55 - 80 years with mild cognitive impairment who used 300 mg of Phosphatidylserine per day for 12 weeks experienced:

- Improved ability to learn and recall names of familiar persons
- Improved ability to recall of the location of misplaced objects
- Improved ability to recall details from the prior week
- Improved ability to recall telephone numbers and paragraphs.
- Improved ability to concentrate while reading, conversing and performing tasks.
Phosphatidylserine improves Mental Function (in persons with Memory impairment).
Phosphatidylserine improves Mood (especially in elderly persons). research
Phosphatidylserine improves the fluidity of the Neuron's Myelin Sheaths.
Phosphatidylserine counteracts the age-related impairment in the function of the Brain’s N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptors (NMDA Receptors). research
Phosphatidylserine prevents some degenerative Neuron damage in some parts of the Brain.
Phosphatidylserine increases the number of Receptor sites for Neurotransmitters within the Brain.
Phosphatidylserine improves Reflexes. research
Phosphatidylserine counteracts the excessive release of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) and Cortisol that occurs as a result of the excessive Stress. research

Phosphatidylserine Enhances the Function of these Substances
Carbohydrates
Phosphatidylserine enhances the efficiency of Glucose metabolism within the Brain.

Enzymes
Phosphatidylserine stimulates the production of Protein-Kinase-C.

Growth Factors
Phosphatidylserine enhances the function of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF): research

- Phosphatidylserine inhibits the degeneration of Nerve Growth Factor Receptors that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.
- Phosphatidylserine stimulates the synthesis and release of Nerve Growth Factor from Neurons.

Hormones
Phosphatidylserine normalizes the daily secretion of Thyrotrophin.

Lipids
Most endogenous Phosphatidylethanolamine is produced within the Mitochondria from Phosphatidylserine. research

Neurotransmitters
Phosphatidylserine facilitates the production and release of Acetylcholine within the Cerebral Cortex and reverses the decline in Acetylcholine release that occurs in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process. research
Phosphatidylserine stimulates the release of Dopamine.

Phosphatidylserine Counteracts the Potentially Toxic Effects of these Substances
Hormones
Phosphatidylserine reduces the excessive release of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) that occurs as a result of the excessive Stress. research
Phosphatidylserine reduces the excessive release of Cortisol that occurs as a result of the excessive Stress. research

These Substances Enhance the Function of Phosphatidylserine
Enzymes
Phosphatidylserine Decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of Phosphatidylserine to Phosphatidylethanolamine.

Lipids
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) comprises approximately 30% of the Fatty Acids of the Phosphatidylserine content of the Brain. research

Vitamins
Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for the Phosphatidylserine Decarboxylase enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of Phosphatidylserine to Phosphatidylethanolamine.

Dietary Sources of Phosphatidylserine
(mg of substance per 100 mg)
Processed Plant Foods: Lecithin 2,000

Occasional Toxic Effects of Phosphatidylserine
Nervous System
Phosphatidylserine occasionally causes mild Nausea.

Contraindications
Pharmaceutical Drugs
People who are using Pharmaceutical Anti-Coagulants should not consume supplementary Phosphatidylserine.

Bioavailability
Phosphatidylserine has been shown to exhibit excellent bioavailability when supplemented orally, with elevated blood serum levels appearing after 30 minutes, with subsequent uptake by the Liver, and the Brain (it readily crosses the Blood-Brain Barrier).

Forms of Phosphatidylserine
Bovine Phosphatidylserine:

(Also known as: Bovine Cortex Phosphatidylserine; BC-PS)
Supplemental form of Phosphatidylserine derived from the Cortex of the Brain of Cattle.
BC-PS contains greater levels of Stearic Acid and Oleic Acid in its molecular structure than Soy Phosphatidylserine.
Soy Phosphatidylserine:

(Also known as: Vegetable-derived Phosphatidylserine; SB-PS)
The more common form of supplemental Phosphatidylserine. It is derived from Soya Beans.
Soy Phosphatidylserine contains greater levels of Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Palmitic Acid in its molecular structure than Bovine Phosphatidylserine.
Soy Phosphatidylserine is equally effective as (and possibly more effective than) Bovine Phosphatidylserine for therapeutic purposes.

Using Phosphatidylserine Supplements
Duration of Action
The Memory enhancing effects of Phosphatidylserine can last for up to a month after Phosphatidylserine therapy is discontinued.

Timing Considerations
It is recommended that supplemental Phosphatidylserine be taken with meals (as it can cause rapid release of Dopamine if taken on an empty stomach; this rapid release of Dopamine may cause Nausea in some individuals).
It is recommended that supplemental Phosphatidylserine not be taken immediately prior to going to bed as it may delay the onset of Sleep.

Dosages
The usual dose of Phosphatidylserine for people seeking to improve Mental Function is 100 - 150 mg taken twice per day (= 200 - 300 mg per day).
The amount of Phosphatidylserine required to inhibit Cortisol release is 800 mg per day.
Clinical trials involving persons with Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) and Alzheimer’s Disease have used three doses of 100 mg of Phosphatidylserine each per day (= 300 mg per day).

Commercial Availability of Phosphatidylserine
“Singular” Oral Phosphatidylserine Products
Supplemental Phosphatidylserine is available from health food stores and mail order supplement companies (usually only sold in the USA and Canada) in the form of:

- liquid formulas (sometimes in a suspension of Medium-Chain Triglycerides)
- 100 mg softgel capsules

Oral Formulas
Phosphatidylserine is an active ingredient in several specific purpose formulas (capsules) designed to improve Mental Function (e.g. 15 - 25 mg of Phosphatidylserine combined with other nutrients such as Pregnenolone, Ginkgo biloba or Choline). Tweet