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Phosphatidylserine and perceived stress: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: No effect.

C LimitedSubjective outcome only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: C: small RCTs with inconsistent results (B not met: results not mostly consistent and no trial near n=100)

One trial reported less self-rated stress only in a subgroup with higher neuroticism scores. Another reported decreased distress after a laboratory stress test in the 400 mg group of a PS/phosphatidic acid complex, an effect its abstract describes for that dose only. An industry-funded trial in 75 men found no significant effect on the psychological stress response, and a 20-person golf trial found only a non-significant trend. Cortisol findings are reported separately and are not counted as a perceived-stress benefit. Two of the four trials are confirmed industry-funded; the other two do not state funding.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)2000200520102015RCTControlled trialHellhammer 2004, 2004: RCT, n = 80, result not recordedHellhammer 2014, 2014: RCT, n = 75, result not recordedThe effect of phosphatidylserine 2007, 2007: RCT, n = 20, result not recordedBenton 2001, 2001: controlled trial, n not recorded, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Benton 20012001controlled trialnot recordedresult not recorded
Hellhammer 20042004RCT80result not recorded
The effect of phosphatidylserine 20072007RCT20result not recorded
Hellhammer 20142014RCT75result not recorded

The effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performance.

Jäger R, Purpura M, Geiss KR. The effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performance J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2007. PMID 18053194

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 42 days
Sample
n = 20
Population
Healthy young golfers with handicaps of 15-40
Funding
Cargill Texturizing Solutions and Giventis GmbH (research); Chemi Nutra (publication)

A soy-based phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) normalizes the stress reactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in chronically stressed male subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Hellhammer J, Vogt D, Franz N. A soy-based phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) normalizes the stress reactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in chronically stressed male subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study Lipids Health Dis, 2014. PMID 25081826

Result not recorded
Design
Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT, 42 days (PAS 200 or PAS 400)
Sample
n = 75
Population
Healthy men stratified by chronic stress
Funding
Lipogen Ltd and Lonza Ltd

Effects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stress.

Hellhammer J, Fries E, Buss C. Effects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stress Stress, 2004. PMID 15512856

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized placebo-controlled trial, 3 weeks (PAS: PS + phosphatidic acid complex)
Sample
n = 80
Population
Adults exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (4 groups of 20)
Funding
not stated

The influence of phosphatidylserine supplementation on mood and heart rate when faced with an acute stressor.

Benton D, Donohoe RT, Sillance B. The influence of phosphatidylserine supplementation on mood and heart rate when faced with an acute stressor Nutr Neurosci, 2001. PMID 11842886

Result not recorded
Design
Placebo-controlled trial, 1 month
Population
Young adults; effect seen in those with neuroticism scores above the median
Funding
not stated

Search and history

Search (): phosphatidylserine[ti] AND (stress[tiab] OR cortisol[tiab] OR mood[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR clinical trial[pt])

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (proposed): Updated in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page