Posted by Larry Hoover on August 1, 2003, at 7:12:46
In reply to Anybody had success with phosphatidylserine?, posted by Psychquackery on July 30, 2003, at 14:03:43
> I recently read in a book that an OTC supplement called phosphatidylserine blocks excess cortisol production. And can aide depression recovery by doing the cortisol blocking thing. So I went out and bought some of it today. Wow, that stuff is expensive!!! I took my first one this afternoon and I notice a little change, but nothing dramatic.
>
> So has anyone actually had this stuff work for depression? You are supposed to use it in conjunction with regular psych meds and only if youve been formally tested for high cortisol levels, which I have tested positive for.
>
> Im wondering if this is another bs snakeoil supplement, with overhyped claims being made about it.
>
> Igor.It's not snake oil. PS is two things at the same time. It's got hormonal effects (e.g. the cortisol connection), and it's also a key component in neuronal membranes (it naturally combines with the long-chain omega-3's in fish oil). Stress, particularly oxidative stress, depletes PS and the other three membrane phosphatides.
The other three are found abundantly in soya lecithin. PS is rather rare in nature, so it is usually synthesized from soya lecithin, adding dramatically to the cost (as you note). Still, there is no substitute for it.
Soya lecithin granules are cheap, and quite palatable (straight up, over cereal, in a smoothie, whatever). The PS is necessary, to complete the package.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:246803
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/247283.html