Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Phosphatidylserine
Stress and mood
Human studies reported between-group improvement in cortisol.
combination-ingredient studies · Individual ingredient effects cannot be separated · Human studies · Population not specified · between-group comparison
Publications for this result: 1
Other outcomes and study details
Distinct publications linked to this topic: 6
- Route, form, dose, or population details are incomplete, so the findings cannot be confirmed as directly comparable.
- Combination, formula, or class studies do not isolate this ingredient or establish synergy.
What has been studied?
Distinct human comparison papers: 2
Some studies tested several ingredients together. Those results cannot show this ingredient’s separate effect or establish synergy.
cortisol
- Comparison result:A better result than the comparison group was reported.Combination study
Measurement and study conditions
- Controlled human study
- Randomized trial
- Ingredient combination
- Unspecified population
- Outcome role not specified
- Between-group comparison
- Timepoint: unspecified
- Study comparison: unspecified
Cortisol response
Research with unclear study subject or type
- A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.Single ingredient
Measurement and study conditions
- Review
- Review
- Single ingredient
- Unspecified population
- Outcome role not specified
- Study subject not identified
- Timepoint: unspecified
- Study comparison: unspecified
stress measures
- Comparison result:No clear difference from the comparison group was found.General population · Combination study · 12 weeks.
Measurement and study conditions
- Controlled human study
- Randomized trial
- Ingredient combination
- General population
- Primary outcome
- Between-group comparison
- Timepoint: 12 weeks.
- Study comparison: No overall main effect on stress measures; stress-reduction signal was reported exclusively in parti
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (3)
- feeling less stressed · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- HAM-D17 · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
- oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Research topics to explore
Research topics to explore
Review findings reported in each research area.
Topics with more linked papers appear first.
- View results
Cognition
Related papers 6 · comparison findings need further review
- Memory function · Interpretation held
- memory recognition · Interpretation held
More outcome groups: 3
- View selected result
Stress and mood
Related papers 6 · human comparison papers 2
- View results
Bone, joint, and mobility
Related papers 1 · comparison findings need further review
- View results
Exercise performance
Related papers 1 · comparison findings need further review
- exercise time to exhaustion at 85% VO2max · Comparison details unconfirmed
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: Not yet rated
The 0.0 evidence score includes 2 independent human studies and 2 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The C tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies, too few clinical findings with an explicit effect direction.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 61
Papers linked to this topic 6 · distinct papers 6 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 2 · papers needing additional review 3
Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- cortisol: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- Cortisol response: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- feeling less stressed: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- HAM-D17: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- stress measures: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
Cognition
What the research found
Memory function
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Animal study · indirect · Single ingredient · Patient group
This finding comes from animal or cell research. It does not establish the same effect in people.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Memory function
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
memory recognition
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Ingredient combination · Patient group
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
myelination
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Animal study · indirect · Ingredient combination · Patient group
This finding comes from animal or cell research. It does not establish the same effect in people.
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
spatial learning and memory
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Animal study · indirect · Single ingredient · General population
This finding comes from animal or cell research. It does not establish the same effect in people.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
weight of the brain
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Animal study · indirect · Ingredient combination · Patient group
This finding comes from animal or cell research. It does not establish the same effect in people.
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Stress and mood
What the research found
stress measures
No clear difference in this measurement was found between the compared groups.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
cortisol
The study reported improvement in this measurement.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · Unspecified population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Cortisol response
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Review · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
feeling less stressed
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · General population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
HAM-D17
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Ingredient combination · Patient group
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Separable contribution · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Bone, joint, and mobility
What the research found
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Animal study · indirect · Ingredient combination · Patient group
This finding comes from animal or cell research. It does not establish the same effect in people.
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Exercise performance
What the research found
exercise time to exhaustion at 85% VO2max
A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
Caution findings
0
Findings from individual and combined use, plus reviewed cautions
Key precautions
No combination cautions are available to show in the current data. This does not guarantee safety.
These findings were reported in studies. They do not predict an individual's experience.
Side effects and combination studies
No side-effect or combination findings are available to show from the collected papers. This does not establish safety.