Guest guest Posted August 29, 2002 Report Share Posted August 29, 2002 >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 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2002 Report Share Posted August 31, 2002 , 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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