Could phosphatidylserine be the next big ergogenic aid for endurance athletes?
Phosphatidylserine is a naturally occurring lipid, which is located on the inner surface of cell membranes in most tissues of animals and plants and which is also found in micro-organisms. But according to a team of Welsh scientists, it could also have potential to enhance endurance capacity when taken as a supplement. In this study, the Swansea team examined the effect of 750mg of soybean-derived phosphatidylserine, supplemented for 10 days, on the exercise capacity, rate of oxygen uptake and the perceived rate of exertion during exhaustive intermittent exercise in 14 male cyclists. The subjects were split into two groups; those taking phosphatidylserine and those taking a placebo. After 10 days, both groups then completed a staged exercise test consisting of three 10-minute stages of cycling at 45, 55, and 65% VO2max, followed by a final bou
