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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
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
Posted by Pfinstegg on August 1, 2003, at 10:43:04
In reply to Re: Anybody had success with phosphatidylserine? » Psychquackery, posted by Larry Hoover on August 1, 2003, at 7:12:46
Thank you, Larry, for that very informative explanation of how PS works. It's one of the things I take, also; however, I only knew that it was supposed to be helpful in making serum (and brain) cortisol levels more normal. Knowing how it works, it seems like such a sensible thing to take, as do fish oil, B vitamins, magnesium, etc. I do think that the question "has it helped" is probably not the right question to ask. A person taking PS is probably not going to notice a clear cause-and-effect relationship. However, taking it as part of an over-all program which includes whatever AD works best and the nutitional supplements which you have been educating us about makes a great deal of sense.
Pfinstegg
Posted by Ron Hill on August 2, 2003, at 22:12:55
In reply to Re: Anybody had success with phosphatidylserine? » Psychquackery, posted by Larry Hoover on August 1, 2003, at 7:12:46
Hey Larry,
> Soya lecithin granules are cheap, and quite palatable (straight up, over cereal, in a smoothie, whatever).
One man's palatable is another man's YUCK. I made the unfortunate mistake of buying a large bottle of liquid lecithin and taking it by the tablespoons. Never again! Until my dying day, I plan to take my lecithin in a "down-the-hatch" capsule.
Lar, you might be right about the tastiness of lecithin granules, but I'm not brave enough to try it given my experience with the liquid form of the delicacy. :-)
How the heck are ya Lar?
-- Ron
Posted by BekkaH on August 2, 2003, at 22:39:37
In reply to Re: Lecithin as an Ice Cream Topping » Larry Hoover, posted by Ron Hill on August 2, 2003, at 22:12:55
Hi Ron,
Lecithin granules and liquid lecithin are like two different animals. I agree that liquid lecithin is awful! It's like very thick motor oil. Don't give up on lecithin just because of your motor oil experience.
Bekka
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 3, 2003, at 4:46:13
In reply to Re: Lecithin as an Ice Cream Topping » Larry Hoover, posted by Ron Hill on August 2, 2003, at 22:12:55
> Hey Larry,
>
> > Soya lecithin granules are cheap, and quite palatable (straight up, over cereal, in a smoothie, whatever).
>
> One man's palatable is another man's YUCK. I made the unfortunate mistake of buying a large bottle of liquid lecithin and taking it by the tablespoons. Never again! Until my dying day, I plan to take my lecithin in a "down-the-hatch" capsule.Ron, I just did the same, uhh, "experiment". Liquid lecithin is horrid stuff. You'll get no argument from me, there. I bought it because it was cheap (and so am I). Living in abject poverty for a few years because of my health issues has made me somewhat of a penny-pincher, but buying the liquid lecithin was a waste of money.
> Lar, you might be right about the tastiness of lecithin granules, but I'm not brave enough to try it given my experience with the liquid form of the delicacy. :-)
Two different animals. I have had both, and there is no comparison between them. Lecithin granules have a mild, perhaps slightly nutty, flavour. I literally eat them straight from the spoon. The only concern is that they can go rancid over time, but your nose is designed by nature to be sensitive to rancid fats. Rancid fats have a characteristic smell, ya know? Just check to see they're fresh before you buy it, and store it in the fridge.
> How the heck are ya Lar?
>
> -- RonDoing really well, thanks. I'm still somewhat astonished about that.....I just did a six week stretch of work, which included periods which exceeded my previous record rates of work as well. For example, an eleven day stretch on the road. Running out of hours in my log book a number of times.
When I got home off my last trip (15 hours, 1200 km, load/unload and customs on the last day, starting at 4 a.m.), I was a little tired. But one sleep, and I woke up feeling fine. That is unprecedented, when considering the recent years of my life.
I am laying all the credit for that amazing reversal in my chronic fatigue syndrome on NADH, which you suggested I try. I think I will always be grateful to you for that.
How are you doing, buddy?
Lar
Posted by Ron Hill on August 3, 2003, at 20:34:54
In reply to Re: Lecithin as an Ice Cream Topping » Ron Hill, posted by Larry Hoover on August 3, 2003, at 4:46:13
This is the end of the thread.
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