Phosphatidylserine for Stress
Phosphatidylserine has only weak evidence for stress. A few very small trials show it can dampen the cortisol and ACTH surge triggered by exercise or acute stress, but these are short-term hormone readouts, not proof that it actually makes people feel less stressed.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
The grade rests on just four small double-blind RCTs (n=8 to 75). Two older trials using brain-cortex PS blunted the exercise-induced ACTH and cortisol rise (PMID 1325348; PMID 2170852), and an industry-funded crossover trial of soy-derived PS cut plasma cortisol by about 39% around exercise (PMID 18662395). A larger industry-funded trial found a soy PS/phosphatidic-acid complex normalized the stress-hormone response, but only at the higher 400 mg dose and only in chronically high-stressed men; the 200 mg dose did nothing (PMID 25081826).
The core weakness is that almost every positive result is a surrogate endpoint, lower cortisol or ACTH, rather than a validated clinical outcome like perceived stress, anxiety, or quality of life. Samples are tiny, two of the key trials were funded by a supplement maker, and the oldest studies used a brain-cortex form that is no longer sold, so the findings transfer poorly to today's soy-based products.
Authorities do not back it for stress. European regulators (EFSA) reviewed and rejected the stress-reduction health claim, finding no established cause-and-effect, and no major clinic or specialty body (NIH ODS, Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard, the psychiatric and psychological associations) takes a supporting stance. That leaves a weak, cautiously worded verdict rather than a recommendation.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.464
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 無高階證據可裁決
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 1 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status