Phosphatidylserine May Help Memory in Children

by | Mar 28, 2013 | 2013, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Infant and Children's Health, Phosphatidyl Serine

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a study of children aged 4 to 14 who had ADHD and received 200 mg of phosphatidylserine (important brain nutrient), a significant improvement was exhibited in memory, attention, and mental performance. 

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood/adolescent disorders (1) and is characterized by significant difficulties in paying attention, staying focused, controlling behavior and hyperactivity. The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control state approximately 9.5% of children 4-17 years of age (5.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2007, with the rates of ADHD diagnosis increasing 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and 5.5% per year from 2003 to 2007 (2).

The exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, with risk factors thought to be genetic influences, environmental toxins and nutritional deficiencies (3). While current treatments include behavioral interventions, stimulant and antidepressant medications, 20–30% of children are unresponsive or unable to tolerate these medications (4) due to side effects that may include anxiety, mood swings, loss of appetite, insomnia, increase in blood pressure and heart rate and, at higher doses, even paranoid psychoses (5). As a result, parents are looking for natural alternatives to manage the symptoms.

Now a new study (6) suggests that phosphatidylserine, considered to be one of the most important brain nutrients by influencing a number of nerve chemical systems (7), may help with memory health in children.

In the study, children aged 4 to 14 with ADHD but no previous drug treatment related to ADHD received either 200 mg of phosphatidylserine per day (19 children) or placebo (17 children) for 2 months. The researchers measured 3 outcomes:

  • ADHD symptoms based on the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)
  • Short-term memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
  • Mental performance to visual stimuli (Go / No-Go Association task)

By the end of 2 months, those in the phosphatidylserine group exhibited significant improvements across all 3 tests compared to the placebo group. Specifically, the DSM-IV scores decreased by 36.9% (11.4 to 7.2) compared to 5.3% the placebo group (11.5 to 10.9) (p = 0.01), short-term memory scores increased by 16.7% (6.6 to 7.7) compared to 6.1% in the placebo group (6.5 to 6.9) (p = 0.03), and total inattention errors in the Go/No-Go Association task decreased by 93% (2.8 to 0.2) compared to an 11% increase in the placebo group (0.9 to 1.0) (p = 0.02). What’s more, phosphatidylserine was well-tolerated and showed no adverse effects.

For the researchers, “Phosphatidylserine significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short-term auditory memory in children” and that “phosphatidylserine supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.”

Source: Hirayama, S., et al. “The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 27.s2 (2014): 284-291.

© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics ª 2013 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

Posted March 28, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. Wilens TE.  Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder across the lifespan. Annu. Rev Med 2002; 53, 113–131.
  2. “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Data and Statistics” posted on the CDC Website.
  3. Pellow, J., Solomon, E. & Barnard, C.N. (2011) Complementary and alternative medical therapies for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Altern Med Rev 2011; 16, 323–337.
  4. Goldman LS.  Diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Council on scientific affairs, American Medical Association. JAMA 1998; 279, 1100–1107.
  5. Brue AW.  Alternative treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: does evidence support their use? Altern. Ther. Health Med 2002; 8, 68–70.
  6. Hiravama S.  The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Hum Nutr Diet 2013 Mar 17. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12090. [Epub ahead of print.
  7. Starks MA.  The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise. J. Int. Soc. Sports 2008; Nutr. 5, 11.