Overview
D-serine is used for schizophrenia, Parkinson disease, and memory and thinking skills (cognitive function), and many other conditions. L-serine is used to improve sleeping, Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS), and many other conditions. There is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness ?
Possibly Effective for
- Schizophrenia. Adding D-serine to standard treatment for schizophrenia seems to improve symptoms. But taking D-serine alone is less effective than standard therapy for this condition.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). Taking L-serine is linked to slower progression of this disease.
- Alzheimer disease. Increased levels of D-serine in the blood are linked with better thinking and memory in people with this disease.
- Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Early research suggests that taking a single dose of D-serine improves some memory and thinking skills in young and older adults.
- Depression. Lower levels of D-serine have been linked with greater severity of depression. But it's unclear if taking D-serine can improve depression symptoms.
- A group of inherited disorders that leads to muscle weakness and numbness in the arms and legs. Early research shows that taking L-serine for one year reduces nerve pain people with this condition.
- Insomnia. Early research in healthy people unhappy with their sleep shows that taking L-serine helps them fall asleep, stay asleep, and improves sleep quality.
- Parkinson disease. Early research suggests that taking D-serine improves movement and behavior in people with this condition.
- A type of anxiety that often develops after a terrifying event (post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD). Early research suggests that taking D-serine improves anxiety and depression in people with PTSD.
- Tourette syndrome. Early research suggests that taking D-serine doesn't improve symptoms in people with this condition.
- Muscle fatigue.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects
Special Precautions and Warnings
Kidney disease: High doses of D-serine might worsen kidney disease. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions ?
We currently have no information for SERINE overview.
Dosing
BY MOUTH:
- For schizophrenia: D-serine 30-120 mg/kg has been used daily in divided doses for 4-6 weeks.
Avellar M, Scoriels L, Madeira C, et al. The effect of D-serine administration on cognition and mood in older adults. Oncotarget. 2016;7(11):11881-8. View abstract.
Avellar M, Scoriels L, Madeira C, et al. The effect of D-serine administration on cognition and mood in older adults. Oncotarget. 2016;7(11):11881-8. View abstract.
Biemans EA, Verhoeven-Duif NM, Gerrits J, Claassen JA, Kuiperij HB, Verbeek MM. CSF d-serine concentrations are similar in Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and elderly controls. Neurobiol Aging. 2016;42:213-6. View abstract.
Biemans EA, Verhoeven-Duif NM, Gerrits J, Claassen JA, Kuiperij HB, Verbeek MM. CSF d-serine concentrations are similar in Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and elderly controls. Neurobiol Aging. 2016;42:213-6. View abstract.
Billard JM. D-Serine in the aging hippocampus. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2015;116:18-24. View abstract.
Billard JM. D-Serine in the aging hippocampus. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2015;116:18-24. View abstract.
Bradley WG, Miller RX, Levine TD, Stommel EW, Cox PA. Studies of Environmental Risk Factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and a Phase I Clinical Trial of L-Serine. Neurotox Res. 2018;33(1):192-198. View abstract.
Bradley WG, Miller RX, Levine TD, Stommel EW, Cox PA. Studies of Environmental Risk Factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and a Phase I Clinical Trial of L-Serine. Neurotox Res. 2018;33(1):192-198. View abstract.
Chang CH, Kuo HL, Ma WF, Tsai HC. Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum D-Serine Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2020;9(12):3840. View abstract.
Chang CH, Kuo HL, Ma WF, Tsai HC. Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum D-Serine Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2020;9(12):3840. View abstract.
Cho SE, Na KS, Cho SJ, Kang SG. Low d-serine levels in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Lett. 2016;634:42-51. View abstract.
Cho SE, Na KS, Cho SJ, Kang SG. Low d-serine levels in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Lett. 2016;634:42-51. View abstract.
D'Souza DC, Radhakrishnan R, Perry E, et al. Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the combination of D-serine and computerized cognitive retraining in schizophrenia: an international collaborative pilot study. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(3):492-503. View abstract.
D'Souza DC, Radhakrishnan R, Perry E, et al. Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the combination of D-serine and computerized cognitive retraining in schizophrenia: an international collaborative pilot study. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(3):492-503. View abstract.
Ermilov M, Gelfin E, Levin R, et al. A pilot double-blind comparison of d-serine and high-dose olanzapine in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2013;150(2-3):604-5. View abstract.
Ermilov M, Gelfin E, Levin R, et al. A pilot double-blind comparison of d-serine and high-dose olanzapine in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2013;150(2-3):604-5. View abstract.
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Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Micronutrients). Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2005. Available at: www.nap.edu/books/10490/html/.
Fridman V, Suriyanarayanan S, Novak P, et al. Randomized trial of l-serine in patients with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1. Neurology. 2019;92(4):e359-e370. View abstract.
Fridman V, Suriyanarayanan S, Novak P, et al. Randomized trial of l-serine in patients with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1. Neurology. 2019;92(4):e359-e370. View abstract.
Garofalo K, Penno A, Schmidt BP, et al. Oral L-serine supplementation reduces production of neurotoxic deoxysphingolipids in mice and humans with hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy type 1. J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4735-45. View abstract.
Garofalo K, Penno A, Schmidt BP, et al. Oral L-serine supplementation reduces production of neurotoxic deoxysphingolipids in mice and humans with hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy type 1. J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4735-45. View abstract.
Gelfin E, Kaufman Y, Korn-Lubetzki I, et al. D-serine adjuvant treatment alleviates behavioural and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;15(4):543-9. View abstract.
Gelfin E, Kaufman Y, Korn-Lubetzki I, et al. D-serine adjuvant treatment alleviates behavioural and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;15(4):543-9. View abstract.
Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ebstein R, et al. D-serine efficacy as add-on pharmacotherapy to risperidone and olanzapine for treatment-refractory schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57(6):577-85. View abstract.
Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ebstein R, et al. D-serine efficacy as add-on pharmacotherapy to risperidone and olanzapine for treatment-refractory schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57(6):577-85. View abstract.
Heresco-Levy U, Vass A, Bloch B, et al. Pilot controlled trial of D-serine for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009;12(9):1275-82. View abstract.
Heresco-Levy U, Vass A, Bloch B, et al. Pilot controlled trial of D-serine for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009;12(9):1275-82. View abstract.
Ishiwata S, Hattori K, Sasayama D, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid D-serine concentrations in major depressive disorder negatively correlate with depression severity. J Affect Disord. 2018;226:155-162. View abstract.
Ishiwata S, Hattori K, Sasayama D, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid D-serine concentrations in major depressive disorder negatively correlate with depression severity. J Affect Disord. 2018;226:155-162. View abstract.
Ito Y, Takahashi S, Shen M, Yamaguchi K, Satoh M. Effects of L-serine ingestion on human sleep. Springerplus. 2014;3:456. View abstract.
Ito Y, Takahashi S, Shen M, Yamaguchi K, Satoh M. Effects of L-serine ingestion on human sleep. Springerplus. 2014;3:456. View abstract.
Kantrowitz JT, Epstein ML, Lee M, et al. Improvement in mismatch negativity generation during d-serine treatment in schizophrenia: Correlation with symptoms. Schizophr Res. 2018;191:70-79. View abstract.
Kantrowitz JT, Epstein ML, Lee M, et al. Improvement in mismatch negativity generation during d-serine treatment in schizophrenia: Correlation with symptoms. Schizophr Res. 2018;191:70-79. View abstract.
Kantrowitz JT, Malhotra AK, Cornblatt B, et al. High dose D-serine in the treatment of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2010 Aug;121(1-3):125-30. View abstract.
Kantrowitz JT, Malhotra AK, Cornblatt B, et al. High dose D-serine in the treatment of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2010 Aug;121(1-3):125-30. View abstract.
Lane HY, Chang YC, Liu YC, Chiu CC, Tsai GE. Sarcosine or D-serine add-on treatment for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(11):1196-204. View abstract.
Lane HY, Chang YC, Liu YC, Chiu CC, Tsai GE. Sarcosine or D-serine add-on treatment for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(11):1196-204. View abstract.
Lane HY, Lin CH, Huang YJ, Liao CH, Chang YC, Tsai GE. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison study of sarcosine (N-methylglycine) and D-serine add-on treatment for schizophrenia. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2010;13(4):451-60. View abstract.
Lane HY, Lin CH, Huang YJ, Liao CH, Chang YC, Tsai GE. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison study of sarcosine (N-methylglycine) and D-serine add-on treatment for schizophrenia. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2010;13(4):451-60. View abstract.
Lemmon ME, Grados M, Kline T, Thompson CB, Ali SF, Singer HS. Efficacy of Glutamate Modulators in Tic Suppression: A Double-Blind, Randomized Control Trial of D-serine and Riluzole in Tourette Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol. 2015;52(6):629-34. View abstract.
Lemmon ME, Grados M, Kline T, Thompson CB, Ali SF, Singer HS. Efficacy of Glutamate Modulators in Tic Suppression: A Double-Blind, Randomized Control Trial of D-serine and Riluzole in Tourette Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol. 2015;52(6):629-34. View abstract.
Levin R, Dor-Abarbanel AE, Edelman S, et al. Behavioral and cognitive effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor co-agonist D-serine in healthy humans: initial findings. J Psychiatr Res. 2015;61:188-95. View abstract.
Levin R, Dor-Abarbanel AE, Edelman S, et al. Behavioral and cognitive effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor co-agonist D-serine in healthy humans: initial findings. J Psychiatr Res. 2015;61:188-95. View abstract.
Levine TD, Miller RG, Bradley WG, et al. Phase I clinical trial of safety of L-serine for ALS patients. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2017;18(1-2):107-111. View abstract.
Levine TD, Miller RG, Bradley WG, et al. Phase I clinical trial of safety of L-serine for ALS patients. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2017;18(1-2):107-111. View abstract.
Lin CH, Yang HT, Lane HY. D-glutamate, D-serine, and D-alanine differ in their roles in cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2019;185:172760. View abstract.
Lin CH, Yang HT, Lane HY. D-glutamate, D-serine, and D-alanine differ in their roles in cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2019;185:172760. View abstract.
MacKay MB, Kravtsenyuk M, Thomas R, Mitchell ND, Dursun SM, Baker GB. D-Serine: Potential Therapeutic Agent and/or Biomarker in Schizophrenia and Depression? Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:25. View abstract.
MacKay MB, Kravtsenyuk M, Thomas R, Mitchell ND, Dursun SM, Baker GB. D-Serine: Potential Therapeutic Agent and/or Biomarker in Schizophrenia and Depression? Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:25. View abstract.
Malkesman O, Austin DR, Tragon T, et al. Acute D-serine treatment produces antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;15(8):1135-48. View abstract.
Malkesman O, Austin DR, Tragon T, et al. Acute D-serine treatment produces antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;15(8):1135-48. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
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. View abstract.
Moaddel R, Luckenbaugh DA, Xie Y, et al. D-serine plasma concentration is a potential biomarker of (R,S)-ketamine antidepressant response in subjects with treatment-resistant depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015;232(2):399-409. View abstract.
Moaddel R, Luckenbaugh DA, Xie Y, et al. D-serine plasma concentration is a potential biomarker of (R,S)-ketamine antidepressant response in subjects with treatment-resistant depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015;232(2):399-409. View abstract.
Montesinos Guevara C, Mani AR. The role of D-serine in peripheral tissues. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016;780:216-23. View abstract.
Montesinos Guevara C, Mani AR. The role of D-serine in peripheral tissues. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016;780:216-23. View abstract.
Nagamachi S, Nishigawa T, Takakura M, et al. Dietary L-serine modifies free amino acid composition of maternal milk and lowers the body weight of the offspring in mice. J Vet Med Sci. 2018;80(2):235-241. View abstract.
Nagamachi S, Nishigawa T, Takakura M, et al. Dietary L-serine modifies free amino acid composition of maternal milk and lowers the body weight of the offspring in mice. J Vet Med Sci. 2018;80(2):235-241. View abstract.
Nagasawa M, Otsuka T, Togo Y, et al. Single and chronic L-serine treatments exert antidepressant-like effects in rats possibly by different means. Amino Acids. 2017;49(9):1561-1570. View abstract.
Nagasawa M, Otsuka T, Togo Y, et al. Single and chronic L-serine treatments exert antidepressant-like effects in rats possibly by different means. Amino Acids. 2017;49(9):1561-1570. View abstract.
Sasahara I, Yamamoto A, Takeshita M, et al. L-Serine and EPA Relieve Chronic Low-Back and Knee Pain in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Nutr 2020;150(9):2278-2286. View abstract.
Sasahara I, Yamamoto A, Takeshita M, et al. L-Serine and EPA Relieve Chronic Low-Back and Knee Pain in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Nutr 2020;150(9):2278-2286. View abstract.
Seif T, Simms JA, Lei K, et al. D-Serine and D-Cycloserine Reduce Compulsive Alcohol Intake in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015;40(10):2357-67. View abstract.
Seif T, Simms JA, Lei K, et al. D-Serine and D-Cycloserine Reduce Compulsive Alcohol Intake in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015;40(10):2357-67. View abstract.
Singh SP, Singh V. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of adjunctive NMDA receptor modulators in chronic schizophrenia. CNS Drugs. 2011;25(10):859-85. View abstract.
Singh SP, Singh V. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of adjunctive NMDA receptor modulators in chronic schizophrenia. CNS Drugs. 2011;25(10):859-85. View abstract.
Tsuda Y, Yamaguchi M, Noma T, Okaya E, Itoh H. Combined Effect of Arginine, Valine, and Serine on Exercise-Induced Fatigue in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(4). pii: E862. doi: 10.3390/nu11040862. View abstract.
Tsuda Y, Yamaguchi M, Noma T, Okaya E, Itoh H. Combined Effect of Arginine, Valine, and Serine on Exercise-Induced Fatigue in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(4). pii: E862. doi: 10.3390/nu11040862. View abstract.
Tuominen HJ, Tiihonen J, Wahlbeck K. Glutamatergic drugs for schizophrenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(2):CD003730. View abstract.
Tuominen HJ, Tiihonen J, Wahlbeck K. Glutamatergic drugs for schizophrenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(2):CD003730. View abstract.
Verhoef P, Steenge GR, Boelsma E, van Vliet T, Olthof MR, Katan MB. Dietary serine and cystine attenuate the homocysteine-raising effect of dietary methionine: a randomized crossover trial in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(3):674-9. View abstract.
Verhoef P, Steenge GR, Boelsma E, van Vliet T, Olthof MR, Katan MB. Dietary serine and cystine attenuate the homocysteine-raising effect of dietary methionine: a randomized crossover trial in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(3):674-9. View abstract.
Weiser M, Heresco-Levy U, Davidson M, et al. A multicenter, add-on randomized controlled trial of low-dose d-serine for negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(6):e728-34. View abstract.
Weiser M, Heresco-Levy U, Davidson M, et al. A multicenter, add-on randomized controlled trial of low-dose d-serine for negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(6):e728-34. View abstract.
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