Phosphatidylserine

PS · 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine · soy phosphatidylserine

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Inattention in pediatric ADHD¹ Behavioral problems in ADHD² Exercise-induced cortisol response³ Perceived stress and mood⁴ Daily functioning in Alzheimer's disease⁵	Soy allergy⁶ Pregnancy or lactation⁶

Phosphatidylserine is a membrane phospholipid concentrated in neural tissue, where it supports cell signaling and survival⁷. Supplementation is used for memory and cognition in older adults, where small trials show slight gains too small to be clinically relevant⁸. It is also used for inattention in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and for the cortisol response to exercise stress, where results are mixed. One crossover trial found a blunted response, and another in soccer players did not.

A meta-analysis found an effect on inattention in pediatric ADHD but not on overall symptoms, with low-quality evidence¹. A systematic review in mental disorders found heterogeneous, inconsistent cognitive results⁹. In Alzheimer's disease, small trials suggested short-lived or limited benefit⁸. In 2026, a randomized open-label trial in children with ADHD found phosphatidylserine did not improve core symptoms relative to atomoxetine but was associated with fewer internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. Products listing phosphatidylserine are sold mainly as softgel and capsule formulations, often soy-derived; see Form comparison.

Soy-derived products carry soy allergen statements on most United States (US) labels⁶. Per US product labels, a health professional is consulted before use with medications, in pregnancy or lactation, or before planned surgery⁶.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

66 sources, 48 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources