Vayarin

Phosphatidylserine (PS) in the mammalian nervous system, containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, has been implicated in numerous membrane-associated functions, such as maintaining the integrity of cell membranes, cell excitability and cell-to-cell recognition and communication. While the exact mechanism by which this medical food exerts its effects is not fully understood, PS has been found to regulate important proteins in neuronal cell membranes, including sodium/calcium ATPase and protein kinase C, which perform crucial functions in many signal transduction pathways. Similarly, PS interacts with Raf-1 protein kinase to promote a cascade of reactions that are believed to be involved in the survival of cells. Additionally, PS has been found to influence neurotransmitter activity, such as the release of acetylcholine (Ach), dopamine, and noradrenaline. In addition, it is also thought to increase brain glucose concentrations. Administration of specially processed formulations consisting of PS conjugated to omega-3 fatty acids was found to significantly increase DHA levels in the brain tissue of rats.