✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Phosphatidylserine evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ FDA-qualified claim for elderly cognitive dysfunction — rare for a supplement [2]
⚠ Benefits are for elderly with cognitive decline, NOT young healthy adults [2]
⚠ Modern PS is soy/sunflower-derived — no BSE risk [2]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Present in small amounts in food (and made by the body); there is no daily dietary target.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
PS has one of the very few FDA-qualified health claims for cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. 100–300 mg/day for cognition; 400–800 mg/day for cortisol blunting. Modern PS is soy/sunflower-derived (bovine brain withdrawn for BSE risk). Benefits are for age-related decline, NOT young adult cognitive enhancement [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Endogenous phospholipid. No supplementation data [1].
👦 Pediatric: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: With meals [2].
💊 With food: Fat-containing meal enhances absorption [2].
🚫 Avoid: No significant contraindications [2].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Soy-derived PS', 'common', 'Standard supplement form. 100 mg per capsule. Well-studied [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Sunflower-derived PS', 'preferred', 'Soy-free option. Identical molecule. For soy-allergic individuals [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['PS + DHA complex', '', 'Combined phospholipid. May enhance absorption of both [2].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Does PS really help memory? ▼
In elderly with age-related cognitive decline: yes, multiple RCTs positive. In young healthy adults: no convincing benefit [2]. The FDA qualified health claim exists specifically for elderly cognitive dysfunction.
Soy vs bovine source? ▼
Modern PS from soy or sunflower is the only option — bovine-brain PS was withdrawn due to BSE/prion concerns. The chemical structure is identical. Most positive elderly trials used bovine PS; newer trials with soy PS also show benefit [2].
Does PS lower cortisol? ▼
At higher doses (400–800 mg/day), PS blunted exercise-induced cortisol response in several trials [2]. This is separate from the cognitive indication (100–300 mg/day).
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Structural component of neuronal membranes (10–15% of brain phospholipids) — established biochemistry [1]. FDA-qualified health claim for cognitive dysfunction in elderly (one of very few supplement qualified health claims) [2]. HIGH
Moderate
Age-related cognitive decline: multiple RCTs (mostly with bovine-source PS) showed improvement in memory, attention, and language in elderly with cognitive complaints [2]. Exercise-induced cortisol: 400–800 mg/day PS blunted cortisol response to exercise in several trials [2]. ADHD in children: some positive small trials (200 mg/day) [2]. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ Anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy — bleeding risk (especially older bovine-derived products)
⚠ Concurrent cholinergic or anticholinergic drugs
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — insufficient safety data
🚩 Red flags
● Patient buying bovine-brain PS — BSE risk; use soy/sunflower-derived [2]
6 Interactions
Supplement synergies
Citicoline + DHA · 500 mg citicoline + 250 mg DHA
Triple brain membrane support stack [1].
Triple brain membrane support stack [1].
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): GRAS. FDA-qualified health claim: 'phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia/cognitive dysfunction in the elderly' — one of very few supplement qualified claims [2].
European Union: Food supplement. No EFSA-authorized claims [2].
South Korea: Dietary supplement.
8 US supplement products
208
on-market products containing Phosphatidylserine (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Phosphatidylserine (109)
Click a brand to see its Phosphatidylserine products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Phosphatidylserine — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/phosphatidylserine/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Phosphatidylserine — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/phosphatidylserine/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Phosphatidylserine — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/phosphatidylserine/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG