Phosphatidylserine Powder

Phosphatidylserine reference formula at a default of 100 mg per serving, developed as a softgel, capsule or powder.

Phosphatidylserine is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient phospholipid product around 100 mg per serving. The brand sets the final amount for its market, and reference labels span 60 to 1,500 mg per serving.

Softgel is the lead format because an oil fill suits a phospholipid, with capsule and powder developed alongside. Most of the work is in the raw material: phosphatidylserine is sold as a powder of a stated purity on a carrier, and the carrier, the source and the oxidation of its fatty acid chains shape the fill weight and the shelf life.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Phosphatidylserine100 mgPhosphatidylserine powder from sunflower or soy lecithin, specified as phosphatidylserine content; 100 mg phosphatidylserine per servingA liquid phosphatidylserine concentrate or a different purity grade, with the input recalculated from the supplier’s assay

The amount is stated as mg of phosphatidylserine itself, not of the powder that carries it. Phosphatidylserine is a mixture of molecular species with different fatty acid chains, so no single molecular weight is used and no conversion is made.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around brain nutrition. Phosphatidylserine is included as the single ingredient so that the concept stays on one membrane phospholipid.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Neuronal membrane phospholipidPhosphatidylserineA review describes phosphatidylserine as the major anionic phospholipid enriched in the inner leaflet of neural plasma membranes, where its interaction with signaling proteins supports neuronal survival and differentiation [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Memory-focused positioningPhosphatidylserineA review of over-the-counter memory supplements reports some current evidence for memory benefit from phosphatidylserine while finding no compelling evidence for several other common ingredients, and notes that results across the ingredients it covers are mixed [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The amount is a design choice. The reviews in [1] and [2] cover the phospholipid and the supplement category in general and do not test this formula, so any claim on a finished product is reviewed for each market.

Available Formats

Reference labels are split between capsules and softgels, with a smaller group of powders; these three formats are developed here.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Softgel1 softgelPhosphatidylserine 100 mg60 or 90 softgelsGelatin or plant-based shell, glycerin, MCT oil, sunflower lecithin, mixed tocopherolsLead format; phospholipid in an oil fill
Capsule1 capsulePhosphatidylserine 100 mg60 or 120 capsulesVegetable capsule shell, flow agent, magnesium stearateDry powder fill
Powder1 stick pack, 3 gPhosphatidylserine 100 mg30 stick packsSweetener, acid, flavor, flow agentDissolves into a drink

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The powder is assumed to contain 50% phosphatidylserine, so 100 mg of phosphatidylserine needs 200 mg of powder per serving; the supplier’s assay replaces this assumption once the grade is chosen.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
SoftgelPS powder 200 mg600 mg fill400 mgPowder suspension in the oil, fill weight variation, shell compatibility, oxidation of the fill
CapsulePS powder 200 mg350 mg per capsule150 mgPowder flow and stickiness, fill weight variation, disintegration
PowderPS powder 200 mg3 g per stick pack2,800 mgDispersion in water, clumping, taste

Tablet and gummy are separate projects, because a waxy phospholipid powder needs its own compression and gummy-base work.

Formulation Considerations

Purity and carrier. Phosphatidylserine powders carry the active on a carrier such as maltodextrin or lecithin, and the assay differs between grades. The input in the table moves directly with the assay, so the grade is fixed first.
Oxidation of fatty acid chains. The phospholipid carries unsaturated fatty acids that oxidize in air. An antioxidant such as mixed tocopherols, nitrogen flushing and opaque packaging are part of the softgel and capsule plan.
Sticky powder. A phospholipid powder is waxy and picks up moisture, so it bridges in the hopper and sticks to capsule filling equipment. Flow agent level and humidity control are tested in the pilot run.
Source. Soy-derived and sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine are sold side by side. The source decides allergen labeling and the market positioning, and is stated on the specification.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount, the source, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Phosphatidylserine per serving100, 200 or 300 mgExamples for the brand; fill weight rises with the amount
SourceSunflower or soySets allergen labeling
FormatSoftgel, capsule or powderTablet and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsDHA, vitamin B12A second ingredient changes the fill weight and the oxidation plan

The pilot run confirms the powder assay against the 100 mg label amount, softgel fill uniformity and the flow of the dry powder in the capsule filler.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderBerry, citrus, unflavoredFruit flavors cover the lecithin note of the powder

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (100 mg on the label of CF005011; example DSLD labels 27981, 76058, 176626). The label names the ingredient as phosphatidylserine; the source is set in formulation.
SpecificationSet in formulationPhosphatidylserine powder with a stated phosphatidylserine content and source; assay, peroxide value, microbial and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Kim HY, Huang BX, Spector AA. Phosphatidylserine in the brain: metabolism and function. Prog Lipid Res. 2014;56:1-18. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Hersant H, He S, Maliha P, et al. Over the Counter Supplements for Memory: A Review of Available Evidence. CNS Drugs. 2023;37(9):797-817. DOI · PubMed

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