Researchers tested whether a natural supplement called phosphatidylserine (PS) could help healthy kids think better and focus more. Over 12 weeks, some children took the supplement while others took a fake pill. The results were surprising: for most kids, the supplement didn’t make a difference. However, kids who started out struggling with memory tasks did show some improvement. The supplement was safe and didn’t cause problems, but scientists say we need more research to understand who might actually benefit from it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a brain supplement made from sunflowers could help healthy children ages 8-12 perform better on thinking and memory tasks
  • Who participated: Healthy children between 8 and 12 years old with no learning or attention problems. Some received the real supplement while others received a placebo (fake pill) that looked identical
  • Key finding: The supplement didn’t help most kids, but children who started with below-average memory skills showed improvement in one specific memory test after 12 weeks of taking it
  • What it means for you: If your child is a typical learner, this supplement probably won’t boost their thinking skills. However, if your child struggles with certain memory tasks, it might be worth discussing with a doctor, though more research is needed before making any decisions

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the best ways to test if something actually works. Researchers divided children into two groups: one group received 100 mg of phosphatidylserine (a natural substance found in sunflower seeds) in gummy form, while the other group received a matching placebo gummy that looked and tasted the same but had no active ingredient. Neither the kids nor their parents knew which group they were in, which helps prevent bias.

The children took their assigned gummy every day for 12 weeks. At the start, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks, all the children completed tests that measured different types of thinking skills, mood, and sleep quality. The researchers compared how much each group improved to see if the supplement made a real difference.

The study was registered on a public database (ClinicalTrials.gov) before it started, which is important because it shows the researchers planned their study carefully and weren’t just reporting results that looked good after the fact.

Using a placebo control is crucial because kids might perform better just because they think they’re taking something helpful, or parents might notice improvements they expect to see. By comparing the real supplement to a fake one that looks identical, researchers can tell if any benefits come from the actual supplement or just from expectations. Testing at multiple time points (6 and 12 weeks) helps show whether benefits appear quickly or take longer to develop.

This study has several strengths: it was randomized (which reduces bias), it used a placebo control (the gold standard for testing supplements), and it measured multiple aspects of thinking and well-being. However, the abstract doesn’t specify how many children participated, which makes it hard to judge whether the study was large enough to detect real effects. The fact that researchers looked at subgroups after the study was completed (children with below-average performance) is less reliable than if they had planned this analysis before starting, though they did pre-define this subgroup analysis, which is better than completely unexpected findings.

What the Results Show

When looking at all the children together, the phosphatidylserine supplement made no difference compared to placebo on any of the main thinking tests the researchers measured. This was true for general thinking skills, attention, memory, and mood. The children who took the real supplement performed about the same as those who took the fake pill.

However, when researchers looked specifically at children who started the study with below-average performance on memory and thinking tasks, something interesting happened. These children showed improvement on one specific test called a visuospatial memory task (the ability to remember where things are located in space) after taking the supplement for 12 weeks. This suggests the supplement might help kids who are already struggling, even if it doesn’t help kids who are already doing well.

The supplement was very safe. No children experienced serious problems, and it was well tolerated, meaning kids didn’t have trouble taking it or experience side effects that made them want to stop.

The study measured several other outcomes including general mood and sleep quality, but the abstract doesn’t provide specific details about these results. The fact that the supplement was safe and well-tolerated is important because it means there’s no safety concern with using it, even if it doesn’t provide benefits for most healthy children.

Previous research has shown that phosphatidylserine supplements can help adults with thinking problems and can reduce attention problems in children with ADHD (a condition that makes focusing difficult). This new study suggests that healthy children without attention problems might not benefit as much as children with existing difficulties. This makes sense because supplements often help people who are struggling more than people who are already doing well.

The main limitation is that we don’t know the exact number of children who participated, which makes it hard to judge whether the study was large enough. The finding about kids with below-average performance is interesting but less reliable than the main results because it was discovered after looking at the data, even though it was pre-planned. We also don’t know if the benefits for struggling kids would last beyond 12 weeks or if they would continue to improve with longer use. Finally, this study only tested one dose (100 mg), so we don’t know if higher or lower doses might work differently.

The Bottom Line

For healthy children with typical thinking and memory skills: This supplement is probably not necessary and won’t likely improve their school performance or thinking abilities (low confidence for benefit). For children who struggle with memory or thinking tasks: It may be worth discussing with your pediatrician as a possible option, though more research is needed before it can be strongly recommended (moderate confidence, pending further research). Always talk to a doctor before giving any supplement to children.

Parents of children who are struggling with memory or spatial reasoning tasks might want to discuss this with their doctor. This research is less relevant for parents of children who are already performing well academically and cognitively. Teachers and school psychologists who work with children having learning difficulties might find this interesting for future reference.

If the supplement does help, benefits appeared to develop over the full 12 weeks of the study. Don’t expect immediate improvements. If you were to try this with a doctor’s approval, you’d want to give it at least 6-12 weeks to see if it makes a difference, and you’d need to track specific memory or thinking skills rather than expecting general improvement.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If a child is taking this supplement, track specific memory tasks weekly: Have them remember the location of 10 objects in a room after 5 minutes, and record how many they remember correctly. This directly measures the type of memory that showed improvement in the study.
  • Create a daily reminder for taking the supplement at the same time each day (consistency matters for supplements). Pair it with a specific routine like breakfast or dinner to build the habit. Use the app to log when doses are taken and any observed changes in focus or memory performance.
  • Set up weekly check-ins to assess memory performance using simple, consistent tests. Track mood and sleep quality alongside memory improvements to get a complete picture. Compare performance every 4 weeks to see if there’s a trend. If no improvement appears after 8-12 weeks, discuss with a doctor about whether to continue.

This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Phosphatidylserine supplements are not FDA-approved medications and their effects vary by individual. Before giving any supplement to your child, consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider, especially if your child takes other medications or has underlying health conditions. This study shows promise only for children with below-average cognitive performance, not for typically developing children. The findings are preliminary and more research is needed before strong recommendations can be made.