Re: Seriphos (very long)

[Guest guest]

>From: " Yildiz " <ng2113@...>

>Subject: Ýlt: controlling high cortisol

>,

>What is Seriphos's action mechanism? Does it effect

Hypothalamus, Pituitary or

>does it only neutralize cortisol? Wonder if you know the answer.

>Thanks.

>Nil

I have no expertise, but I was also interested, so I pieced

together a kind of term-paper on this. It is mainly from The

Natural Pharmacy (TNP) Encyclopedia, which impresses me as

credible (iHerb.com links to it:

http://www.iherb.com/health.html) Where I use quote marks, that

means TNP. ALL CAPS is emphasis from me.

1. GARDEN VARIETY, PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE (PS) VS.

(SERIPHOS)PHOSPHORYLATED SERINE

Seriphos says that regular phosphatidyl serine (PS) is merely a

precursor molecule, not the activated, phosphorylated form

provided by Seriphos, i.e., in Seriphos, the serine has already

been phosphorylated for you, before you take it. Each 100 mg of

regular PS yields only 20mg of phosphorylated serine.

The research has all been done with the old, regular PS. So from

here on, that's what we are talking about.

2. THERAPEUTIC USES

Most of the research on PS has not been focused on cortisol, but

rather on the Big-Three memory impairments:

--Alzheimer's Dementia,

--Non-Alzheimer's Dementia, and

--plain Age-Related Memory Loss.

" Meaningful evidence from numerous double-blind studies suggests

that PS is an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease and

other forms of age-related mental decline. "

Starting with those, because:

1. In our condition, we are interested in that too, independent

of the cortisol connection,

2. It adds credibility to PS, just to know that it has been

responsibly judged to be good for something of significance.

3. It is background for what the mechanism of action might be,

which was Nil's original question.

3. " WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE?

" Overall, the evidence for PS in dementia is quite strong.

Double-blind studies involving a total of over 1,000 people

suggest that phosphatidylserine (at least the type from a cow's

brain-See Below) is an effective treatment for Alzheimer's

disease AND other forms of dementia.

" The largest of these studies followed 494 elderly subjects in

northeastern Italy over a course of 6 months. All suffered from

moderate to severe mental decline, as measured by standard tests.

Treatment consisted of either 300 mg daily of PS or placebo. The

group that took PS did significantly better in both behavior and

mental function than the placebo group. Symptoms of depression

also improved.

" These results agree with those of numerous smaller double-blind

studies involving a total of over 500 people with Alzheimer's and

other types of age-related dementia.

" There is some evidence that PS can also help people with

ORDINARY age-related memory loss. In one double-blind study that

enrolled 149 individuals with memory loss but not dementia,

phosphatidylserine provided significant benefits as compared with

placebo. Individuals with the most severe memory loss showed the

most improvement...

" Good evidence suggests that PS can help declining mental

function and depression in the elderly, and it is widely used for

this purpose in Italy, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe. PS

has also been marketed as a " brain booster " for people of all

ages, said to sharpen memory and increase thinking ability...

" PS is widely marketed as a treatment for ordinary age-related

memory loss, technically known as Age-Related Cognitive Decline

(ARCD) or Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI), and there is

some evidence that it might work. In studies of severe mental

decline, PS was equally effective whether the cause was

Alzheimer's disease OR something entirely unrelated (multiple

small strokes). This certainly suggests that PS may have a

positive impact on the brain that is not specific to any one

condition. From this observation, it is not a great leap to

suspect that it might make it useful for much less severe

problems with memory and mental function, such as those that seem

to occur in nearly all of us who are older than 40. Indeed, one

double-blind study did find that phosphatidylserine could improve

mental function in individuals with relatively mild age-related

memory loss. "

The TNP Encyclopedia also briefly mentions that " PS may also be

helpful for depression., " and cites two references:

" Maggioni M, Picotti GB, Bondiolotti GP, et al. Effects of

phosphatidylserine therapy in geriatric patients with depressive

disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1990;81:265-270.

" Brambilla F, Maggioni M, Panerai AE, et al. Beta-endorphin

concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly

depressed patients-effects of phosphatidylserine therapy.

Neuropsychobiology. 1996;34:18-21.

4. CORTISOL-FROM THE ATHLETE ANGLE

This is TNP's take:

" Weak evidence suggests that PS might decrease the release of the

hormone cortisol after intense exercise. Among its many effects,

cortisol acts to break down muscle tissue-exactly the opposite of

the effect desired by a strength athlete or bodybuilder. This

double-blind placebo-controlled study on 11 intensely trained

athletes found that 800 mg of PS taken daily reduced the cortisol

rise by 20% as compared with placebo.

" Another small study on 9 nonathletic males found that daily

doses of 400 and 800 mg of PS reduced cortisol levels after

exercise by 16% and 30%, respectively. Another study found that

phosphatidylserine could relieve some overtraining symptoms,

including muscle soreness, possibly due to effects on cortisol.

" However, there is as yet no direct evidence to support the

claims that PS actually helps athletes build muscles more quickly

and with less training effort.

(Dko: I think the " weak evidence " qualifier above may be directed

more to the athletic enhancement than to just cortisol

containment--just my reading of it.)

5. CORTISOL AND THE HPA AXIS

This study is reported at Smart Basics--a vendor:

http://www.ehot.com/smartbasics/seriphos_cat.html It appears to

be non-controlled and cover 14 individuals

Early Cortisol Escape Phenomenon Reversed by Phosphatidylserine

In Elderly Normal Subjects. Nerozzi, Dina et al, Clinical Trials

Journal, 1 89, vol 26 (1).

Summary

The early cortisol escape phenomenon observed after

administration of I mg of dexamethasone in 50% of the elderly

subjects in the study was reversed by two-months therapy with

phosphatidylserine (PS), 3 x 100 mg tablets daily.

A number of alterations of the HPAA (Hypothalmic Pituitary

Adrenal Axis) was detectable in our study in normal elderly

subjects; abnormal elevation of basal morning cortisol values (3

subjects); disruption of the circadian cortisol pattern (4

subjects); early cortisol escape phenomenon observed in seven of

our subjects. A true non-suppression was visible only in two

individuals. Therefore, the early cortisol escape phenomenon

appears to be the most consistent abnormality found in our

subjects.

6. " THERAPEUTIC DOSAGES

" For the purpose of improving mental function, PS is usually

taken in dosages of 100 mg 2 to 3 times daily. After maximum

effect is achieved, the dosage can sometimes be reduced to 100 mg

daily without losing benefit. PS can be taken with or without

meals.

" When taking PS for sports purposes, athletes may use as much as

800 mg daily.

Suggested use: One capsule 15 minutes before a meal or as

directed by a health care professional.

7. " SOURCES

" Your body makes all the PS it needs. However, the only way to

get a therapeutic dosage of PS is to take a supplement.

" PS was originally manufactured from the brains of cows, and all

the studies described here used this form. However, because

animal brain cells can harbor viruses, that form is no longer

available, and most PS today is made from soybeans. According to

some experts, soy-based PS is just as effective as PS made from

cows' brains. (1-5) However, not everyone agrees. (6)

" Phosphatidylserine can also be manufactured from cabbage, but in

one study the results with this form of the supplement were not

impressive. (7) "

This note, from Life Extension, is interesting, but I don't quite

get it.

" NOTE: Seriphos works with the pineal gland. Take two in the

morning and two at lunch time before meals for better sleep at

nighttime. This mimics the cortisol " curve " . "

Finally...another cortisol limiter I ran into: Holy Basil

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for very well prepared information and sorry for late answer.

It seems that it does not neutralise cortisol. I have checked the sites you

have given and found extremely helpful.I am not familiar with medical

terminology so I must say that I could not clearly understand at what point

of HPAA Seriphos comes into action. Hypothalamus or Pituitary? Have you

understood it?

I have found http://www.mind-boosters.com/ extremely helpful also

http://www.mind-boosters.com/chapter_19.html#Fourth-Line which mentions

natural depression remedies like 5-HTP ,Melatonine,Sam-e and various other

remedies that we all use is very helpful page.

What is the maximum dosage of Seriphos you take and do you have any problems

in taking it? strange things like feeling depressed,confused,foggy..

Thanks very much.Information was very helpful.

Nil

|

| I have no expertise, but I was also interested, so I pieced

| together a kind of term-paper on this. It is mainly from The

| Natural Pharmacy (TNP) Encyclopedia, which impresses me as

| credible (iHerb.com links to it:

| http://www.iherb.com/health.html) Where I use quote marks, that

| means TNP. ALL CAPS is emphasis from me.

|

| 1. GARDEN VARIETY, PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE (PS) VS.

| (SERIPHOS)PHOSPHORYLATED SERINE