L-Serine is a high-quality dietary supplement composed of L-serine. This amino acid fulfils multiple functions in the body: it helps ensure the central nervous system (1) , immune system (2) and muscular system (3) function normally, and is converted into D-serine to activate specific receptors in the brain(4), etc. L-serine is also a precursor of other amino acids used by the body.
What exactly is L-serine?
L-serine is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula C3 H7 NO3. This organic compound was first isolated in 1865. Discovered in extracts of silkworm cocoon, L-serine, or simply ‘serine’, gets its name from the Latin sericum meaning ‘ silk’.
Where is this amino acid found?
Serine is synthesised by the body from vitamins B3, B6 and folic acid ... Astrocytes (the cells responsible for protecting neurons) are, for example, known to produce L-serine. A certain amount is also found in dietary protein: meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, grains (5)...
What functions does serine perform in the body?
L-serine plays a role in many important biochemical processes:
- it participates in the synthesis of proteins, nucleotides and neurotransmitters (6);
- it is also the precursor of D-serine which directly contributes to the brain’s neuronal and synaptic plasticity(7-10). D-serine acts as a gliotransmitter in the hippocampus by binding to the brain’s NMDA receptors which are essential for learning and memorising (11-13);
- serine is involved in forming cell membranes and myelin (the protective sheath surrounding nerves) (14);
- it supports a healthy immune system, primarily by increasing the number of T lymphocytes in the body (15);
- it participates in the development of muscle mass and promotes post-exercise recovery (16);
- it is associated with the formation of purines and pyrimidines, compounds essential to the life of cells;
- it is also a precursor of other amino acids (glycine, cysteine, tryptophan...) and various metabolites (sphingolipids, folates...)
What benefits are offered by the supplement L-Serine?
Supplementation provides a substantial intake of L-serine. This product is formulated to deliver 2000 mg of serine a day, consistent with the doses recommended in current studies.
Recent research suggests that supplementing with L-Serine is an effective way of helping to preserve and restore memory. A French study that investigated mice with degenerative disorders, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, has attracted significant scientific interest. As we know, certain neurodegenerative problems are associated with a decrease in energy metabolism. This causes astrocytes to consume less glucose and as a result, they produce less L-serine (and thus D-serine). Without D-serine to stimulate NMDA receptors, neuronal plasticity and memorisation capacity decrease.
This study demonstrated that dietary intake of L-serine successfully restored spatial memory in mice with degenerative problems. In short, it suggests that supplementation with L-serine, as an adjunct to drug therapy, may help combat changes in cerebral metabolism.
Daily dose: 2000 mg
Number of doses per pack: 30 |
Amount per dose |
L-serine |
2000 mg |
Other ingredients: acacia gum. |
Adults. Take 2 tablets a day.
Each tablet contains 1000 mg of L-serine.
- Tabatabaie L, Klomp LW, Berger R, de Koning TJ. L-serine synthesis in the central nervous system: a review on serine deficiency disorders. Mol Genet Metab. 2010;99(3):256-262. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2009.10.012
- Ma EH, Bantug G, Griss T, et al. Serine Is an Essential Metabolite for Effector T Cell Expansion [published correction appears in Cell Metab. 2017 Feb 7;25(2):482]. Cell Metab. 2017;25(2):345-357. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.12.011
- Gheller B, Blum J, Thalacker-Mercer A. Serine and Glycine Are Essential for Human Muscle Progenitor Cell P Roliferation (P08-063-19). Curr Dev Nutr. 2019;3(Suppl 1):nzz044.P08-063-19. Published 2019 Oct 24. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P08-063-19
- Le Douce J, Maugard M, Veran J, et al. Impairment of Glycolysis-Derived l-Serine Production in Astrocytes Contributes to Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease. Cell Metab. 2020;31(3):503-517.e8. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2020.02.004
- http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/webmodules/aminoacid.htm
- Tabatabaie L, Klomp LW, Berger R, de Koning TJ. L-serine synthesis in the central nervous system: a review on serine deficiency disorders. Mol Genet Metab. 2010;99(3):256-262. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2009.10.012
- Wolosker H, Dumin E, Balan L, Foltyn VN. D-amino acids in the brain: D-serine in neurotransmission and neurodegeneration. FEBS J. 2008;275(14):3514-3526. doi:10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06515.x
- Metcalf JS, Dunlop RA, Powell JT, Banack SA, Cox PA. L-Serine: a Naturally-Occurring Amino Acid with Therapeutic Potential. Neurotox Res. 2018;33(1):213-221. doi:10.1007/s12640-017-9814-x
- Hirabayashi Y, Furuya S. Roles of l-serine and sphingolipid synthesis in brain development and neuronal survival. Prog Lipid Res. 2008;47(3):188-203. doi:10.1016/j.plipres.2008.01.003
- El-Hattab AW, Shaheen R, Hertecant J, et al. On the phenotypic spectrum of serine biosynthesis defects. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2016;39(3):373-381. doi:10.1007/s10545-016-9921-5
- Le Douce J, Maugard M, Veran J, et al. Impairment of Glycolysis-Derived l-Serine Production in Astrocytes Contributes to Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease. Cell Metab. 2020;31(3):503-517.e8. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2020.02.004
- http://www.cnrs.fr/fr/alzheimer-un-acide-amine-pour-aider-restaurer-la-memoire
- https://lejournal.cnrs.fr/articles/un-nouveau-regime-pour-freiner-alzheimer
- Wang G, Ding L, Gao C, et al. Neuroprotective effect of l-serine against white matter demyelination by harnessing and modulating inflammation in mice. Neuropharmacology. 2019;146:39-49. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.11.025
- Ma EH, Bantug G, Griss T, et al. Serine Is an Essential Metabolite for Effector T Cell Expansion [published correction appears in Cell Metab. 2017 Feb 7;25(2):482]. Cell Metab. 2017;25(2):345-357. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.12.011
- Gheller B, Blum J, Thalacker-Mercer A. Serine and Glycine Are Essential for Human Muscle Progenitor Cell P Roliferation (P08-063-19). Curr Dev Nutr. 2019;3(Suppl 1):nzz044.P08-063-19. Published 2019 Oct 24. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P08-063-19
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