Adam J. Wells, Adam M. Gonzalez, Gerald T. Mangine, Nadia S. Emerson, William P. McCormack, Adam R. Jajtner, Jeremy R. Townsend, Tyler C. Scanlon, Edward H. Robinson IV, Jeffrey R. Stout, FACSM,
Jay R. Hoffman, FACSM, and Maren S. Fragala
Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA,
METHODS CONT.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) supplementation may play a role in attenuating the adverse
effects of physical fatigue on cognition, mood, and motor function. However, the
results from recent investigations remain equivocal.
PURPOSE: To examine the effect of ingesting a supplement (S) containing PS (400
mg·day-1) and caffeine (100 mg·day-1) for 14 days, on measures of cognitive function
(CF), reaction time (RT), and mood (MD), following an acute exercise stress.
METHODS: Twenty-one recreationally trained men and women (age: 22.5 ± 3.4 yrs;
height: 1.76 ± 1.0 m; weight: 77.6 ± 12.6 kg; body fat: 14.6 ± 6.6 %) volunteered for
this double-blind, controlled study. Participants completed two acute bouts of
resistance exercise (T1 and T2), separated by two weeks of supplementation with S
or control (C). Measures of RT (Dynavision D2), CF (Serial Subtraction Test), and MD
(Profile of Mood States) were assessed pre and post exercise at T1 and T2. A 2 x 2
(time x treatment) repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the
data.
RESULTS: When collapsed across groups, a significant decrease (p = 0.05) in RT
performance (# of strikes) was seen in the 60-second reaction drill from pre to post
exercise at T1. All other RT tests were similar from pre to post exercise at T1. RT was
not significantly changed in response to PS (p > 0.05), and no significant between
group differences were noted at T2. When collapsed across groups, a significant
increase in the number of correct answers, and a significant decrease in time to
answer was seen from pre to post workout at T1 (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007,
respectively) and T2 (p = 0.004 and 0.018, respectively) in the CF test. A significant
increase in total mood score was observed for C but not for S (p = 0.034).
Additionally, C experienced a 13% greater increase (p = 0.031) in pre to post
exercise perception of fatigue compared to S. A significant decrease in confusion
was observed in S at T2 (p = 0.041).
CONCLUSION: Ingestion of 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine for 14days appears to attenuate post-exercise MD scores and perception of fatigue, but
does not improve reaction time in recreationally trained individuals following acute
resistance exercise. An acute bout of resistance exercise may improve CF; however,
PS provides no further benefit.
INTRODUCTION
• 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) was determined in the bench-press and barbell back
squat exercises. A 10-RM was determined for deadlift, incline bench-press and bentover row exercises.
RESULTS CONT.
T1 (Pre-Ingestion)
Test
Measure
• Previous studies have shown that PS can significantly enhance cognition [3] and
time to exhaustion [4,5].
• The integration of supplemental PS into cellular membranes may stimulate neural
amplification, possibly augmenting both cognition and motor function [6,7], however
the efficacy of supplemental PS remains equivocal.
• Differences in the findings of previous studies may be related to the level of fatigue
associated with the protocol.
PURPOSE
mg·day-1
• To examine the effects of 2 weeks supplementation with 400
PS on
measures of cognitive function, reaction time and mood in healthy young adults,
following an acute exercise stress designed to elicit fatigue.
METHODS
• Twenty-one healthy resistance trained men (n=17) and women (n=4); age: 22.5 ± 3.4
yrs; height: 1.76 ± 1.0 m; weight: 77.6 ± 12.6 kg; body fat: 14.6 ± 6.6 %; completed
two acute bouts of resistance exercise.
• Measures of reaction time, cognition and mood state were assessed immediately pre
and post workout at T1 and T2.
• The exercise protocol consisted of 4 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of 1-RM with 90 s
rest between sets and exercises.
T2 (Post-Ingestion)
Pre Exer
CON 0.37 ± 0.04
SUP 0.34 ± 0.05
Post Exer
0.36 ± 0.04
0.34 ± 0.06
Pre Exer
Post Exer
0.36 ± 0.04 0.35 ± 0.04
0.33 ± 0.04 0.33 ± 0.04
CON 0.22 ± 0.04
SUP 0.23 ± 0.05
0.23 ± 0.06
0.26 ± 0.07
0.19 ± 0.04 0.19 ± 0.04
0.25 ± 0.07 0.25 ± 0.06
CON 0.58 ± 0.04 0.59 ± 0.07
SUP 0.57 ± 0.07 0.60 ± 0.11
CON 89.5 ± 10.7 83.6 ± 12.2*
SUP 91.7 ± 7.9 89.4 ± 10.5*
0.56 ± 0.05 0.54 ± 0.05
0.58 ± 0.09 0.58 ± 0.06
92.6 ± 7.8 89.5 ± 12.8
92.5 ± 9.3 91.5 ± 8.5
CON 0.68 ± 0.08
0.72 ± 0.12
0.64 ± 0.05 0.68 ± 0.12
SUP 0.66 ± 0.06
CON 75.1 ± 14.8
60 s Reaction Test w/
Strikes
Cognitive Stress
SUP 78.1 ± 12.4
* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.
0.68 ± 0.08
0.65 ± 0.07 0.65 ± 0.06
70.9 ± 12.7
76.4 ± 12.9
80.5 ± 9.7
81.0 ± 8.7
• Statistical analysis of the data was accomplished using a 2 x 2 (time x treatment)
repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at T1 and T2. In the event of a
significant F-ratio, Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for pairwise comparisons.
Visual
Motor
Simple RT (s)
Physical
Strikes
Avg. Time
per Strike
(s)
* $ 29%
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
* 16%
36.45
51.73
38.00
46.00
Pre Workout
Post Workout
Pre Workout
Post Workout
CON
60 s Reaction Test
SUP
Figure 2: Changes in mood disturbance from pre to post workout following 14 days
supplementation with 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine.
* Significant change within groups p = ≤ 0.05; $ Significant interaction between groups p = ≤ 0.05
78.9 ± 16.9
82.4 ± 9.5
Serial Subtraction Test. Two-minute timed
verbal test in which participants were required
to subtract the number 7 from a random
computer generated four-digit number.
Table 2: POMS
T1 (Pre-Ingestion)
Test
Measure
Total Mood
Score
Study Design Schematic
Fatigue
Pre Exer
Post Exer
CON 231.7 ± 18.5 260.5 ± 16.6*
SUP 233.6 ± 9.3 249.3 ± 13.1*
CON
SUP
38.9 ± 6.9
35.7 ± 3.4
54.2 ± 9.7*
47.9 ± 8.4*
T2 (Post-Ingestion)
Pre Exer
Post Exer
227.3 ± 12.8 254.2 ± 20.6*$
234.5 ± 10.2 241.8 ± 13.7*
36.5 ± 5.6
38.0 ± 4.9
51.7 ± 9.5*$
45.1 ± 7.6*
Table 3: Serial Subtraction Test
Measures
T1 (Pre-Ingestion)
• Visual and motor and physical reaction time were assessed with the
Dynavision® D2 Visuomotor training device.
Tension
• Cognitive function was assessed using a verbally administered Serial Subtraction
Test.
Profile of
Mood States
(POMS)
Reaction Time
• No significant differences were seen in visual, motor, or physical RT from PRE to
POST workout at T1 (p = 0.853, p = 0.224 and p = 0.294 respectively) or T2 (p =
0.502, p = 0.841 and p = 0.646 respectively).
Cognition
• A significant increase in the number of correct answers was seen pre to post exercise
at both T1 (p = 0.004) and T2 (p = 0.004) in the serial subtraction test. A significant
decrease in time to answer was seen at both T1 (p = 0.007) and T2 (p = 0.018).
• No differences were noted between groups at T1 or T2 in any of the serial subtraction
tests.
Mood
T1
• At T1, significant increases were seen in total mood score (TMS; p = 0.000), fatigue
(p = 0.000), tension (p = 0.034) and depression (p = 0.048), with a significant
decrease in vigor (p = 0.021 from PRE to POST workout.
• No changes were noted in confusion or anger at T1.
T2
• A significant interaction (p=0.034) for TMS was observed at T2. Post-hoc analysis
demonstrated a significant increase in TMS for CON (p = 0.003) however, no
significant change was observed for SUP (p = 0.166).
• Significant elevations in fatigue were observed in CON (p=0.00) and SUP (p=0.016)
following the workout at T2. However, significant interaction (p=0.031) indicates that
the magnitude of change in fatigue was greater in CON (+29%) compared to SUP
(+16%).
CON
SUP
39.0 ± 3.8
39.4 ± 6.0
41.5 ± 6.1*
42.8 ± 8.7*
35.5 ± 4.1
38.5 ± 5.4
39.3 ± 7.7
38.1 ± 4.0
CON
SUP
56.4 ± 13.7
52.8 ± 13.5
45.2 ± 9.9*$
52.2 ± 17.7
52.8 ± 14.5
52.5 ± 12.3
44.4 ± 12.8
50.6 ± 14.1
Depression
CON
SUP
37.0 ± 0.0
37.0 ± 0.0
37.3 ± 0.5*
37.1 ± 0.3*
37.0 ± 0.0
37.0 ± 0.0
37.18 ± 0.4
37.0 ± 0.0
Confusion
CON
SUP
35.2 ± 1.4
35.8 ± 3.4
35.1 ± 2.7
34.9 ± 3.6
33.6 ± 2.4
35.3 ± 2.4
33.0 ± 1.8
33.7 ± 3.2*
Vigor
RESULTS
Anger
CON
38.0 ± 1.6
38.5 ± 2.4
SUP
* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.
37.7 ± 1.3
38.8 ± 2.6
37.5 ± 1.3
38.2 ± 2.0
37.4 ± 0.8
38.5 ± 2.4
Change in Total Mood score – T2
p = 0.166
p = 0.003
280
270
Total Mood Score
• Prior research indicates that PS is a key activator of protein kinases responsible for
the modulation of nerve cell integrity [1,2].
Change in Fatigue T-Score – T2
Table 1: Reaction Time
• Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS).
• PS is a phospholipid found predominantly in the myelin of brain tissue.
RESULTS CONT.
Fatigue T-Score
ABSTRACT
260
Test
Measure
Number of
correct
answers
Pre Exer
Post Exer
CON 34.2 ± 8.8 36.3 ± 10.5*
T2 (Post-Ingestion)
Pre Exer
Post Exer
36.8 ± 12.1 39.3 ± 11.6*
30.7 ± 9.3
34.5 ± 9.5*
32.8 ± 9.6
35.3 ± 10.3*
Avg. Time CON 3.8 ± 1.1
per Answer
(s)
SUP 4.2 ± 1.3
* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.
3.6 ± 1.1*
3.8 ± 1.6
3.4 ± 1.5*
3.8 ± 1.1*
3.9 ± 1.0
3.7 ± 1.1*
SUP
Serial Subtraction Test
1
SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS
• Ingestion of 400 mg·day-1 of PS for 14-days attenuates post-exercise mood scores
and perception of fatigue.
• Participants ingesting PS were able to maintain TMS from pre to post exercise, while
participants consuming a control experienced a significant increase in total mood
disturbance.
• Perception of fatigue from pre to post-exercise was significantly attenuated in
participants ingesting PS.
• An acute bout of resistance exercise appears to improve cognitive performance;
however PS provides no further benefit.
• Supplementing with PS does not appear to improve reaction time.
250
240
REFERENCES
230
1. Takai Y, Kishimoto A, Iwasa Y, Kawahara Y, Mori T, Nishizuka Y. Calcium-dependent activation of a multifunctional protein kinase by
membrane phospholipids. J Biol Chem 1979;254:3692-5.
2. Newton AC. Protein kinase C: structure, function, and regulation. J Biol Chem 1995;270:28495-8.
3. Parker AG, Gordon J, Thornton A, Byars A, Lubker J, Bartlett M, Byrd M, Oliver J, Simbo S, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Kreider RB.
The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exercise. J Int Soc
Sports Nutr 2011;8:16.
4. Kingsley MI, Wadsworth D, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Benton D. Effects of phosphatidylserine on oxidative stress following intermittent
running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2005;37:1300-6.3
5. Kingsley MI, Miller M, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Benton D. Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active
males. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38:64-71.
6. Funfgeld EW, Nedwidek P. Neurohomologous phosphatidylserine in Parkinsonian subjects with associated disorders of cerebral
metabolism. Clinical Trials Journal 1987;24:42-61.
7. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Mauri PL, Scholey AB. Acute cognitive effects of standardized ginkgo biloba extract complexed with
phosphatidylserine. Human Psychopharmacology 2007;22:199-210.
220
210
200
227.27
254.18
233.00
241.00
Pre Workout
Post Workout
Pre Workout
Post Workout
CON
SUP
Figure 1: Changes in mood disturbance from pre to post workout following 14 days
supplementation with 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine.
Dynavision D2 Visuomotor
Training Device