@SwanRonson - this doesn't really address your question, but it might be helpful to you. Seriphos (phosphorylated serine) was very effective in normalizing my cortisol levels when they were high at night. Here's a blurb I downloaded about
phosphorylated serine (Seriphos) versus
phosphatidyl serine (it says nothing about phosphatidyl choline) (these names are too similar!)
A good place to buy Seriphos is professionalsupplementcenter.com - they have a good price and free fast shipping.
Seriphos - phosphorylated serine
Proprietary Blend: Phosphoserine and Ethanolamine 1,000 mg
Other ingredients: Gelatin.
Seriphos (phosphorylated serine) is less expensive and more efficient in converting the stress hormone cortisol than regular phosphatidyl serine. Phosphorylated Serine is a pure product and not derived from animal tissue. The serine is from vegetable sources and the phosphate is from a pure phosphate donor compound.
Regular phosphatidyl serine acts as a precursor molecule and is not the active form of the nutrient. In the tissue, regular phosphatidyl serine is linked to glyceroland, the appropriate fatty acids specific to each tissue, and is not linked to the fatty acids provided in phosphorylated serine (Seriphos). In short, fatty acids can oxidize in regular phosphatidyl serine.
Seriphos, Phosphorylated Serine, is less expensive and does not oxidize. Absorption does not depend upon enzyme availability in the gastro-intestinal tract of the user as does phosphatidyl serine.
Seriphos, like phosphatidyl serine, stimulates neuronal plasticity, acting as a compensatory adaptive mechanism to cell deterioration, and is capable of preventing or delaying the age-dependent decline of neurotransmitter function.
Chronic stress, physical and mental, can desensitize the hypothalmic-Pituitary-Axis and elevate cortisol. Seriphos can help optimize the stress response, and repair the damage wrought by catabolic stress hormones. Phosphatidyl serine, when consumed in food provides only 20% of active phosphorylated serine. Each 100 mg of phosphatidyl serine only yields 20mg of activated serine following consumption. The bulk of the weight is derived from two fatty acids, acting as a precursor molecule and is not the active form of the nutrient. Seriphos is more stable, economic, and a more active molecule than phosphatidyl serine
Seriphos can improve memory and sleep. Clinical studies show an improvement on both computerized and standard neuropsychological performance tests.
NOTE: Seriphos works with the pineal gland. Take two in the morning and two at lunch time before meals for better sleep at nighttime. This mimics the cortisol "curve".
Re dosage: I had to experiment to get the right dose. Initially I ended up needing 8 capsules of Seriphos a day - a pretty high dose, but it was very effective and eventually I was able to cut it down. It's very important to take it in the morning - taken at night it can cause insomnia, so I took 4 capsules first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and 4 capsules late morning.