Comment · Wed, March 4, 2020
Phosphatidylcholine question
Original post in this thread
SaltPhotograph0 · 3 points
Hi,
I've been reading the product descriptions for Smart PS and Neptune Krill Oil and I'm not sure I understand what is said about the bioavalibility of phosphatidylcholine.
Smart PS:
Phosphatidylcholine has very limited value in improving mental function. Why? Weak bioavailability. As a nutritional supplement, Phosphatidylcholine is hoarded by the liver. As a result, hardly any of it actually makes it to the brain.
Neptune Krill Oil:
Because these fatty acids (EPA and DHA) found in Krill Oil are in the form of phospholipids, most notably phosphatidylcholine, it is widely accepted that Krill Oil has improved bioavailability in comparison to that of standard fish oil supplements.
​
So my questions are:
* Is PS bioavailable or not? Or maybe that depends on its source? (krill oil vs lecithin for example)
* Since PS is captured by the liver, does the EPA/DHA bound to PS actually reach the brain?
* Since PS is captured by the liver, why is it an ingredient in Smart PS?
* What is the PS in S…
What they were answering
Direct reply to the original post — see the thread post above.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Is PS bioavailable or not? Or maybe that depends on its source? (krill oil vs lecithin for example)
Absolutely. That's the point of the SmartPS product. Remember, do not confuse phosphatidylCHOLINE and phosphatidylSERINE. PS is highest in phosphatidylserine.
Since PS is captured by the liver, does the EPA/DHA bound to PS actually reach the brain?
I will take your meaning here to be referring to phosphatidylcholine, not PS. The improvement in bioavailability of phospholipid-bound DHA/EPA is in getting it to your blood and serum. Once it gets absorbed, the EPA and DHA hydrolyze to free EPA/DHA in the blood.
Since PS is captured by the liver, why is it an ingredient in Smart PS?
It's a minor component that naturally shows up in the formula. There is 100mg phosphatidylserine and 25mg phosphatidylcholine. Also, just because it does not reach the brain in high amounts does not mean it is useless. There are tons of processes outside the brain that are crucial to health, and even some gut processes can affect cognition. This is through the gut-brain axis.
What is the PS in Smart PS sourced from?
SmartPS is made from soy and MCT oil. We could do a sunflower alternative one, but I am not sure if there is enough interest for that.