This Phosphatidylserine (PS) vs. Phosphatidylserine Complex article is a comparative review between 2 phospholipid sources that are taken in supplement form to promote brain health.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a building block compound which is necessary for the formation of healthy cell membranes. In addition, PS is very beneficial for your brain, but it works on the peripheral nervous system, too. Some forms of PS work better than others.
On the other hand, Phosphatidylserine Complex is a collective form of PS plus phospholipids which are able to provide similar beneficial bioactivities, although not necessarily brain-specific.
Is Phosphatidylserine (PS) as a single nutrient more beneficial than Phosphatidylserine Complex which is composed of multiple compounds? Let's find out which form is better for your brain health and cognitive performance in this review.
What is Phosphatidylserine (PS)?
Phosphatidylserine (PS) by Zirgouflex PS is believed to promote brain regeneration, protection, energy and even neurotransmitters. However, as you age, PS concentration in your brain declines. Notably, PS is the only nootropic ingredient which has FDA-qualified benefits for reducing the risk of cognitive decline -- suggesting that supplementation can help restore what aging takes away, so your brain can stay sharp and healthy over time.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is beneficial for anyone who wants to maintain brain health and sharp cognition, especially in the context of aging. Although you can get PS from dietary sources, they are often not as potent or clean as Sharp-PS® Green found in Mind Lab Pro®.
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What is Phosphatidylserine Complex (PAS)?
Phosphatidic acid by PatríciaR, NEUROtiker - Phosphatidylserine
- Phosphatidylcholine
- Phosphatidylethanolamine
- Phosphatidylinositol.
In general, most supplements containing Phosphatidylserine Complex often include 2 or more Phosphatidyl compounds. However, not all compounds of Phosphatidylserine Complex are strongly backed up by science. Some compounds in the complex have only been demonstrated to be beneficial in preliminary studies.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is always included in the Phosphatidylserine Complex, as the name suggests. Let's take a closer look at some of the additional compounds typically found in Phosphatidylserine Complexes.
Phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylcholine is used in the synthesis of acetylcholine which is an important neurotransmitter in your brain. Your liver is able to produce Phosphatidylcholine on its own. However, it may not produce enough to optimally support peak mental performance and overall brain health.
Phosphatidylethanolamine
Phosphatidylethanolamine is the second most abundant phospholipid in your body. In the brain, it regulates cell membrane fluidity and helps modulate cell division. While Phosphatidylethanolamine is sometimes included in PS complex supplements, it has only limited scientific evidence supporting its use for brain health. Beyond the brain, stronger evidence suggests it may help with healthy liver function and immune responses.
Phosphatidylinositol
Phosphatidylinositol is another abundant lipid in your brain tissues. It is essential in membrane transport systems that help to maintain the healthy function and plasticity of your brain cells. Phosphatidylinositol also plays a role in cell-to-cell communication in the brain.
What is the difference between Phosphatidylserine (PS) and Phosphatidylserine Complex?
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a single nutrient which is scientifically supported to be beneficial for your brain, central and peripheral nervous system. On the other hand, Phosphatidylserine Complex is a combination of different Phosphatidyl compounds -- including PS -- which are beneficial for the cell membranes of the different cells in your body.
The main difference between Phosphatidylserine (PS) and Phosphatidylserine Complex is that PS is a single nutrient ingredient with very specific benefits for your brain which are also recognized by the FDA. On the contrary, Phosphatidylserine Complex is a combination of 2 or more Phosphatidyl compounds to promote the general health of cell membranes throughout the body.
PS and Phosphatidylserine Complex are not equally beneficial as nootropics. If you want specific benefits for your brain health and cognition, you should opt for a good quality PS in a beneficial dosage range. Phosphatidylserine complex supplements often supply PS of unknown quality at a lower dosage.
Conclusion on Phosphatidylserine (PS) vs. Phosphatidylserine Complex
Phosphatidylserine (PS) has by far the most research-backed brain benefits as a single nutrient -- not as a complex.
In addition, the brain benefits of some nutrients in PS complex lack scientific evidence. They are not really worthy of being called nootropic ingredients, since they are not specifically beneficial for your brain.
PS is a true nootropic, specifically beneficial for your brain. For nootropic benefits, PS is superior to Phosphatidylserine Complex -- especially when taken in a premium form at a clinical-range dosage.
Mind Lab Pro® supplies the best form of PS: Sharp-PS® Green, derived from non-GMO sunflower lecithin.
Mind Lab Pro® uses premium, eco-friendly and soy-free Sharp-PS® Green which is the best form of PS that you can find today.
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Most importantly, rather than complexing PS with compounds that may not help the brain, Mind Lab Pro® presents PS in an advanced stack of 11 premium nootropic ingredients -- all of which are all backed by strong scientific evidence, and all of which are combined to perform.
For the best possible brain health and cognitive performance benefits, opt for Phosphatidylserine (PS) rather than Phosphatidylserine Complex, and take it as part of the best nootropic stack ever developed: Mind Lab Pro®.
References
- Teruhisa Komori The Effects of Phosphatidylserine and Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Containing Supplement on Late Life Depression Ment Illn. 2015 Feb 24; 7(1): 5647.
- Margret I. Moré et al. Soy Lecithin-Derived Phosphatidylserine Plus Phosphatidic Acid: Effects on Brain Functions in Elderly Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Aging Sci 5 April 2017
- Hellhammer J et al. A soy-based phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) normalizes the stress reactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in chronically stressed male subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis. 2014 Jul 31;13:121.
- Stace CL et al. Phosphatidic acid- and phosphatidylserine-binding proteins. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Aug;1761(8):913-26. Epub 2006 Apr 3.
- Vakhapova V et al. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2010;29(5):467-74
- Rosie Dawaliby et al. Phosphatidylethanolamine Is a Key Regulator of Membrane Fluidity in Eukaryotic Cells 9 December 2015
- Dhaval Patel et al. Ethanolamine and Phosphatidylethanolamine: Partners in Health and Disease Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017; 2017: 4829180.
- Pacheco MA et al. Phosphoinositide signaling in human brain. Prog Neurobiol. 1996 Oct;50(2-3):255-73.
- Karen Abel et al. Phosphatidylinositol and inositol phosphate metabolism
