LIPOGEN PS - Phosphatidylserine and Mental Function.

The economic abundance of the Western society is clearly reflected in
food consumption. Our average diet is overwhelmingly excessive in
carbohydrates, proteins and fat. In the latter, however, there is a class
of essential nutrients, the phospholipids, for which this statement is
actually incorrect. Phospholipid consumption is in general below the
estimated daily requirement. This deficiency, which is only rarely
addressed by nutritionists, stems from the trivial fact that the
phospholipid content in almost all food products is relatively low.

Phospholipid supplements which are commercially distributed as
"food additives" are therefore highly recommended. Phospholipids
have a general very important biological function - they constitute
the basis of all biological cells membrane. As a matter of fact, most
physiological activities take place on or through the biological
membrane where the phospholipid provide a fluid matrix, like a
lubricant, which regulates their efficiency.

In the last decade it has become apparent that beside this general
property, each member of the phospholipid family has a specific function.
Some of these functions are not yet fully understood and are of the
current hottest topics in medical research. The most striking member
in the phospholipid family is phosphatidylserine (PS), which is a
functional constituent of brain membranes.

PS is mostly found in brain cells and is involved in numerous functions
of neuronal activity. In recent years, a great deal of the phospholipid
research has emphasized the importance of PS in brain functions -
the memory and learning qualities.

In recent years, another important phospholipid - phosphatidic acid
(PA)- is gaining attention. Phosphatidic acid (PA) is believed to play
an active role in membrane and neuronal processes.
Recent studies show that PA is a Neuronal messenger. Memory loss is
associated with advanced age and is distressing to both the aged
individual and his family.

The clinicians distinguish between two different entities. The first is
age-associated memory impairment.
(AAMI) that affects the whole elderly population, where the ability to
perform demanding everyday memory tasks may decline by 50% or
more over adulthood and aging. AAMI is a gradual, "normal" loss of
memory. The second is memory loss due to Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
and other dementing disorders, most of which are irreversible
conditions of various kinds that affect a smaller proportion of
the aged.

The association between age and memory problems has been
observed in all mammalian species studied to date.
The age associated decline in mental functions like memory,
learning and alertness has been found to parallel the decline
of PS in the brain.
It was therefore thought, somewhat naively, that replenishment
of PS by diet supplementation could recuperate deteriorated
mental functions, particularly in the elderly population.
Despite this over simplified approach the results of such trials
were surprisingly quite positive.
Phosphatidylserine has been shown to exhibit excellent
bioavailability when taken orally, with elevated blood serum
levels appearing after about 30 minutes, with subsequent
uptake by the liver, and later, the brain.

Recent double-blind controlled trials conducted in Europe and
the U.S. indicate that dietary supplementation with
phosphatidylserine can play a vital role in supporting human
cognitive functions as we age.
Among the numerous studies conducted with PS, most were concerned
with subjects already experiencing noticeable declines in judgment,
abstract thought, memory, behavior, and personality.