Phosphatidylserine 100mg

Name: NOW Foods Phosphatidylserine 100mg
Brand: NOW Foods
Price: 22.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid critical for cell membrane integrity in the brain. NOW Foods provides 100mg per softgel from soy-derived sources. PS has one of the few FDA-qualified health claims for cognitive function, though the claim is heavily caveated with 'very limited and preliminary' language.

71/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked

71/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked by Biorank Laboratories

Our Verdict

Solid Choice

NOW Foods PS scores 71 because it delivers a phospholipid with legitimate (if limited) evidence for cognitive support in older adults. The FDA-qualified health claim is notable — very few supplements receive any FDA-recognized claim language. Zero hype penalty as NOW Foods markets this conservatively. The formulation score reflects that soy-derived PS may not be identical in efficacy to the bovine-cortex PS used in earlier landmark studies. Value is moderate — PS is an inherently expensive compound to produce.

Key Findings

One of the few supplements with an FDA-qualified health claim for cognitive function
Crook et al. (1991) showed 300mg/day improved cognition in age-associated memory impairment
100mg per softgel — most studies used 300mg/day, requiring 3 capsules for clinical dose
Soy-derived PS may differ from bovine-cortex PS used in earlier landmark studies
Monteleone et al. (1992) found PS blunted cortisol response to exercise stress

Evidence Analysis

Phosphatidylserine is an essential phospholipid concentrated in brain cell membranes. The FDA allows a qualified health claim: 'Phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. Very limited and preliminary scientific research suggests that phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly.' Crook et al. (1991, Neurology) conducted a multi-center trial showing 300mg/day PS improved cognitive function in age-associated memory impairment. Kato-Kataoka et al. (2010) found 100-300mg soy-derived PS improved memory in elderly with memory complaints. Monteleone et al. (1992) showed PS blunted cortisol response to exercise stress. For healthy adults under 60, evidence of cognitive benefit is weak. Modern PS is soy-derived (original studies used bovine cortex-derived PS, which may have different efficacy).

Ingredient Breakdown

Ingredient	Dose	Effective Dose	Adequacy	Verdict
Phosphatidylserine (soy-derived)	100mg	100-300mg/day		Adequate

True Cost Analysis

Properly Dosed -- What You Pay Is What You Get

Listed Price

$0.37/serving

$11.10/month at 1 serving/day

True Cost Per Effective Dose

$0.37/effective dose

$11.10/month for effective dosing

Value Score

Decent value

Save $1.20/month (11%)

by switching to Double Wood Supplements Lion's Mane Mushroom 1000mg

Where It Falls Short

Modern soy-derived PS may differ in efficacy from the bovine-cortex PS used in landmark studies (Crook et al., 1991). The 100mg dose requires 3 capsules daily to reach the 300mg dose used in most positive clinical trials, tripling the effective daily cost. Evidence for cognitive benefit in healthy adults under 60 is weak. PS is expensive to manufacture, and this product is not cheap relative to other nootropics. Soy-derived — not suitable for those with soy allergies.

Best For

Adults over 60 concerned about age-related cognitive decline (strongest evidence)
People who want a nootropic with an FDA-qualified health claim (rare for supplements)
Athletes seeking cortisol management around training (Monteleone et al., 1992)
Those building a comprehensive nootropic stack with membrane-support compounds

Not Ideal For

Healthy adults under 50 (evidence for cognitive enhancement is weak in younger populations)
Budget-conscious buyers (effective 300mg/day dosing costs $1.11/day)
People with soy allergies (soy-derived phosphatidylserine)
Those expecting dramatic cognitive improvements (effects are modest even in positive studies)