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ConsumerLab Tests Prompt Product Recall of Memory Supplements
White Plains, New York, January 12, 2024 — Phosphatidylserine supplements are often promoted to improve memory and brain function, but do they really work, and if so, which products on the market are best?
To find out, ConsumerLab carefully reviewed the clinical evidence, and selected, purchased, and tested popular phosphatidylserine supplements on the market. The tests revealed one product contained just 10% its claimed amount of phosphatidylserine, providing only 30 mg of phosphatidylserine rather than the 300 mg promised on the label. Within days of publication of these findings, the distributor of the product investigated and confirmed the deficiency in the product and initiated a recall of the supplement and a related supplement sold under a different brand name.
All of the other supplements selected for testing contained their claimed amounts, and none of the products exceeded strict limits for contamination with heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury). The cost to obtain 100 mg of phosphatidylserine from products ranged from 16 to 61 cents, but was over $4.00 from the product that did not contain its listed amount.
Among the products that passed all tests of quality, ConsumerLab selected two products as Top Picks for phosphatidylserine at, respectively, a moderate dose and a higher dose, based on demonstrated quality, source of ingredient, and cost.
The results are available online in ConsumerLab's new Phosphatidylserine Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons for eight products. Seven products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Doctor's Best Phosphatidyl Serine With SerinAid, Jarrow Formulas PS100, Life Extension PS Caps 100 mg, NOW Phosphatidyl Serine 300 mg, Nutricost Phosphatidyl Serine, Puritan's Pride Neuro-PS, and Swanson Phosphatidylserine. One additional product passed the same testing and was Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC Phosphatidyl Serine.
As explained in the Review, phosphatidylserine (also called phosphatidyl serine or PS) is a component of cell membranes that plays a role in cell signaling in the brain. While the FDA permits supplement labels to claim that phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, it also requires that such labels state there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim. Early clinical studies were mainly conducted with phosphatidylserine from cow brain, but due to concerns about disease transmission, phosphatidylserine in supplements is now mainly derived from soybean, sunflower seeds, and other plant sources. However, plant-based phosphatidylserine has a different fatty acid composition than that from animal sources, and studies using plant-based forms have shown very modest or no benefit for cognitive function or age-related memory impairment.
The Review also discusses the best way to take phosphatidylserine, side effects and drug interactions with phosphatidylserine, and how to get phosphatidylserine from food.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
To find out, ConsumerLab carefully reviewed the clinical evidence, and selected, purchased, and tested popular phosphatidylserine supplements on the market. The tests revealed one product contained just 10% its claimed amount of phosphatidylserine, providing only 30 mg of phosphatidylserine rather than the 300 mg promised on the label. Within days of publication of these findings, the distributor of the product investigated and confirmed the deficiency in the product and initiated a recall of the supplement and a related supplement sold under a different brand name.
All of the other supplements selected for testing contained their claimed amounts, and none of the products exceeded strict limits for contamination with heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury). The cost to obtain 100 mg of phosphatidylserine from products ranged from 16 to 61 cents, but was over $4.00 from the product that did not contain its listed amount.
Among the products that passed all tests of quality, ConsumerLab selected two products as Top Picks for phosphatidylserine at, respectively, a moderate dose and a higher dose, based on demonstrated quality, source of ingredient, and cost.
The results are available online in ConsumerLab's new Phosphatidylserine Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons for eight products. Seven products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Doctor's Best Phosphatidyl Serine With SerinAid, Jarrow Formulas PS100, Life Extension PS Caps 100 mg, NOW Phosphatidyl Serine 300 mg, Nutricost Phosphatidyl Serine, Puritan's Pride Neuro-PS, and Swanson Phosphatidylserine. One additional product passed the same testing and was Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC Phosphatidyl Serine.
As explained in the Review, phosphatidylserine (also called phosphatidyl serine or PS) is a component of cell membranes that plays a role in cell signaling in the brain. While the FDA permits supplement labels to claim that phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, it also requires that such labels state there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim. Early clinical studies were mainly conducted with phosphatidylserine from cow brain, but due to concerns about disease transmission, phosphatidylserine in supplements is now mainly derived from soybean, sunflower seeds, and other plant sources. However, plant-based phosphatidylserine has a different fatty acid composition than that from animal sources, and studies using plant-based forms have shown very modest or no benefit for cognitive function or age-related memory impairment.
The Review also discusses the best way to take phosphatidylserine, side effects and drug interactions with phosphatidylserine, and how to get phosphatidylserine from food.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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