Improving Your Skin and Your Brain…With Fat
A June 2008 study out of South Korea has uncovered yet another way to attack wrinkles and other visible signs of aging, but this time around, the solution comes from a substance that's already well known in the scientific and natural health communities for something entirely different.
The study in question was looking at lipids, the overarching term for all kinds of fats in nature. Scientists found that three out of seven lipids they tested were able to prevent UV rays from damaging collagen and to increase matrix metalloproteinase, a skin elasticizer. The lipids also increased collagen in healthy skin cells. The best performer of the group was phosphatidylserine, also known as PS, so the scientists put it into a two-percent topical formula and tested it on human skin that was exposed to UV radiation. To summarize the results: it worked, and now more research is underway to see if PS-based lotions might be a natural and effective way to prevent or combat some of those annoying signs of aging.
But here's the kicker: if you've ever heard of PS before, it was in a totally different context. People have been taking PS supplements to ward off memory decline and dementia. Tests have found it to be effective enough to earn FDA approval for this use, with a claim that PS "may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly." Search for PS pills online, and you'll find that they're available for about 65 cents each, with a recommendation that you take one with each meal. Usually, the online ads are accompanied by slogans such as "the ultimate brain food" and include testimonials from people who report improved memory and a decrease in those pesky "senior moments." As one site puts it, "Volumes of scientific literature have proven the effectiveness of this remarkable ingredient. In a multi-university study, subjects who took PS achieved a 30 percent improvement in cognitive function, including learning, memory, and recalling numbers, names, and faces. In fact, the study found that PS can roll back up to 12 years of mental decline." That's quite a claim!
In the past PS was extracted from cow brains, believe it or not, but the mad cow disease scare of the 1990s ended that practice. Today, the best natural sources of PS are fish (especially mackerel, herring, and eel), poultry, soybeans, and beef. Most of the store-bought supplements are derived from soy.
So while we wait to see if PS creams and lotions come to market to save our skin, we can take advantage of this fascinating lipid today to help save our memories.
Read More on This Topic:
Journal of Lipid Research:
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/49/6/1235
Dr. Ray Sahelian: "Do You Need to Take a PS Supplement?" http://www.raysahelian.com/ps.html
Mayo Clinic: "Phosphatidylserine supplements: Can they improve memory?" http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/phosphatidylserine/AN01592
