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
Bovine-cortex PS at 300 mg/day for 12 weeks improved learning and recall of names, faces, and paragraphs vs placebo. The effect was concentrated in participants with the lowest baseline scores.
The landmark trial, and the origin of the 300 mg dose. One caveat we will not bury: it used bovine-cortex PS, a material withdrawn from the market. We ship sunflower PS, and the FDA's position is that they may not be the same substance.
PMID 2027477
Kato-Kataoka A et al. (2010)
J Clin Biochem NutrRCT · 78 people · 24 weeks
Soy-derived PS at 100–300 mg/day for 6 months. Scores rose similarly in every group including placebo — the trial did not show a benefit over placebo. A subgroup with low baseline scores improved against their own starting point, but not against placebo.
Frequently described as a replication of Crook. It is not — it is a null result, and we would rather say so than let it pad the count.
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.
PMID 20523044
Doma KM et al. (2023)
Neurol TherRCT
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.
PMID 36929344
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.
PMID 25933483