A smart nutrient is a dietary substance that has an effect on some mode of brain or central nervous system function. This could be a psychological change such as mood elevation or a change in emotional state, or may be a physiological change such as an elevation in immune status or increase in the recruitment of muscle fibres during contraction. The smart nutrient will achieve this change by manipulating some part of the normal chemistry of the brain, usually through changes in neurotransmitter levels. Because neurotransmitters are integral in the way the brain cells communities, smart nutrients that affect them can have a significant influence over mood, motivation, emotion and memory. One nutrient that may have a pronounced effect on brain chemistry and function is phosphatidylserine. Phosphatidylserine plays a key role as structural components of membranes. However, phosphatidylserine has special properties when supplemented that allow it to be categorised as a smart nutrient.
Most of the studies investigating phosphatidylserine have looked at its effects in animals or humans with impaired memory. Generally positive cognitive effects are seen in such experiments suggesting that supplements are effective in both animals and humans. Small beneficial effects have also been seen in studies investigating mood and performance improvements in athletes. The mechanism of action of phosphatidylserine in supplemental form is not fully understood but a number of mechanism have been put forward to explain its effects. Generally the number of receptor neurotransmitter receptor sites declines with age and evidence suggest that this effects might be induced by cortisol. Supplements of phosphatidylserine may prevent or reverse this process by altering the membrane properties of the cells and inhibiting the detrimental effects of cortisol. This ability of phosphatidylserine to alter the membranes of neurones in the brain may explain why the effects of supplementation remain after phosphatidylserine have been withdrawn.
