Ingredient Evidence Review
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine (sunflower-derived)
Last updated 2026-05-19 · 5 primary citations
Mechanism
Phosphatidylserine is a fat that sits in the outer wall of every brain cell. It's what lets signals move smoothly between cells. Stress and aging deplete it. Restoring it has been shown to support memory and to blunt the cortisol spike that stress causes — which is especially relevant in perimenopause when cortisol regulation gets noisier.
Why we use it
PS doesn't work in isolation — it pairs with omega-3 DHA to rebuild brain-cell membranes. That partnership was the foundation of the largest recent memory trial in the same cohort we serve. We use sunflower-derived PS (not soy) so it's allergen-clean.
How we dose it
Hericea uses 300 mg per serving (per AM stick pack). The clinical trial range that anchors this dose is 100–300 mg/day.
300 mg — the upper end of doses used in the clinical trials that showed memory and stress-handling benefits. Paired with the omega-3 in this same stick pack because they work together (next row).
Quality & sourcing
Sunflower-derived; allergen-clean (soy-free); Sharp-PS Green® standardized.
Enzymotec / Frutarom-licensed supply.
Primary literature
Crook TH et al. (1991)
NeurologyRCT · 149 people · 12 weeks · Adults 50–75 with age-related memory loss
PS 300 mg/day for 12 weeks improved learning and recall of names, faces, and paragraphs vs placebo.
The landmark trial. The age range and specific endpoint — name-and-face recall — match the everyday memory frustration of the perimenopausal customer.
Kato-Kataoka A et al. (2010)
J Clin Biochem NutrRCT · 78 people · 24 weeks
PS at 100–300 mg/day for 6 months improved memory in adults with everyday memory complaints.
Replicates Crook's findings 20 years later with a longer 6-month design — better evidence for daily-supplement use, which is how Hericea is taken.
PMID 21103034
Vakhapova V et al. (2010)
Dement Geriatr Cogn DisordRCT · 15 weeks
PS bonded to omega-3 (PS-DHA) improved memory in adults with self-reported memory complaints.
Establishes the PS + omega-3 pairing this whole AM stick is built on — these two ingredients work better together than apart.
Reddan JM et al. (2023)
NutrientsRCT
Sharp-PS® Green (the exact form Hericea uses) plus coffee cherry extract improved cognitive performance in adults with memory complaints.
Uses the specific branded PS form in this formula. Recent, healthy-adult cohort — relevant to the average buyer.
Glade MJ & Smith K (2015)
NutritionComprehensive review
Reviews PS's role in brain function across the lifespan, including its established safety record.
Useful for anyone who wants the full evidence picture in one place. Confirms PS as one of the most-studied membrane ingredients in the supplement category.