Research

L-Serine

11 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

1
Meta-analyses
0
Systematic reviews
8
RCTs
2
Other studies
Meta-analyses (9%)
RCTs (73%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2013·Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·Annelies Brouwer, Jurjen J Luykx, Loes van Boxmeer, et al

NMDA-receptor coagonists in serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenia patients: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Meta-analysisn = 1,671

Meta-analysis of serine and other amino acid levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls. Blood serine levels were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients, particularly in males, while other amino acid levels did not differ.

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2025·Brain communications·Burak Yulug, Ozlem Altay, Xiangyu Li, et al

Multi-omics characterization of improved cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease patients after the combined metabolic activator treatment: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II trial.

RCTBrain Health

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II trial evaluated the effects of a combined metabolic activator on cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease patients over 84 days. The study found significant improvements in cognitive function in the treatment group, with no improvement in motor functions. The trial also included comprehensive plasma metabolomics and proteomics analysis.

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2023·Translational neurodegeneration·Burak Yulug, Ozlem Altay, Xiangyu Li, et al

Combined metabolic activators improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease patients: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase-II trial.

RCTBrain Health

A phase-II RCT studied the effect of combined metabolic activators (CMA) on cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease patients. CMA, containing L-serine, nicotinamide riboside, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and L-carnitine tartrate, significantly improved cognitive functions and clinical parameters related to brain health over 84 days compared to placebo.

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2020·The Journal of nutrition·Ikuko Sasahara, Akiko Yamamoto, Masamichi Takeshita, et al

l-Serine and EPA Relieve Chronic Low-Back and Knee Pain in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

RCTn = 120Joint Bone Health

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied the effects of l-serine and EPA on chronic low-back and knee pain in 120 adults. The active group showed significant improvements in pain scores compared to placebo, with no adverse events observed.

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2025·Molecular genetics and metabolism·Bibiche den Hollander, Marieke Rothuizen-Lindenschot, Hoang Lan Le, et al

Potential benefits of l-serine in children with GRIN2B loss-of-function variants: Randomized n-of-1 trials.

RCTn = 4Mental Clarity Sleep

Randomized n-of-1 trials evaluated the efficacy of oral l-serine supplementation in 4 children with GRIN2B loss-of-function variants. Significant improvement in Performance Mastery was observed, with individual improvements noted in information processing, quality of life, sleep, irritability, and language.

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2017·Neurotoxicity research·Walter G Bradley, R X Miller, T D Levine, et al

Studies of Environmental Risk Factors in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and a Phase I Clinical Trial of L-Serine.

RCTn = 20Brain Health

Phase I trial of oral L-serine in 20 ALS patients assessed safety and tolerability, showing a dose-related decrease in the rate of disease progression. L-serine appears safe in doses up to 15g twice daily, with exploratory studies suggesting it might slow ALS progression.

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2016·Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration·Todd D Levine, Robert G Miller, Walter G Bradley, et al

Phase I clinical trial of safety of L-serine for ALS patients.

RCTn = 20

Phase I randomized, double-blind clinical trial assessing the safety of oral L-serine in ALS patients over six months. Patients were assigned to different dose regimens, and disease progression was compared with historical placebo controls. L-serine was generally well tolerated and did not accelerate functional decline as measured by ALSFRS-R scores.

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2011·The Journal of clinical investigation·Kevin Garofalo, Anke Penno, Brian P Schmidt, et al

Oral L-serine supplementation reduces production of neurotoxic deoxysphingolipids in mice and humans with hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy type 1.

RCTn = 14Brain Health Mens Health

The study investigated the effects of L-serine supplementation on neurotoxic deoxysphingolipids (dSLs) levels in mice and humans with hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1). In mice, a 10% L-serine-enriched diet reduced dSL levels and improved motor and sensory performance, as well as male fertility. In a pilot study with 14 HSAN1 patients, L-serine supplementation similarly reduced dSL levels, suggesting its potential as a treatment option for HSAN1.

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2024·Brain : a journal of neurology·Natalia Juliá-Palacios, Mireia Olivella, Mariya Sigatullina Bondarenko, et al

L-serine treatment in patients with GRIN-related encephalopathy: a phase 2A, non-randomized study.

Studyn = 24Brain Health Physical Performance Mood

A phase 2A, non-randomized, open-label trial evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of L-serine in 24 children with GRIN-related encephalopathy over 52 weeks. L-serine treatment improved adaptive behavior, motor function, and quality of life, with better responses in mild phenotypes. EEG patterns normalized in some children, and seizure frequency reduced in one child. One patient discontinued due to irritability and insomnia.

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2021·Nature Communications·Mylène Tajan, Marc Hennequart, E. Cheung, et al

Serine synthesis pathway inhibition cooperates with dietary serine and glycine limitation for cancer therapy

Animal study

The study investigates the combination of dietary serine and glycine depletion with PHGDH inhibition to enhance cancer therapy. In vitro, this combination impairs protein synthesis and stress response. In vivo, it shows therapeutic efficacy against tumors resistant to diet or drug alone, suggesting that PHGDH inhibition augments the efficacy of a serine-depleted diet in mouse models.

Semantic ScholarRead on Semantic Scholar
2014·Psychopharmacology·Ruin Moaddel, David A Luckenbaugh, Ying Xie, et al

D-serine plasma concentration is a potential biomarker of (R,S)-ketamine antidepressant response in subjects with treatment-resistant depression.

RCTn = 21

The study examined the relationship between baseline plasma concentrations of D-serine and L-serine and antidepressant response to (R,S)-ketamine in 21 TRD patients. Baseline D-serine concentrations were significantly lower in ketamine responders compared to non-responders, suggesting D-serine as a potential biomarker for predicting antidepressant response.

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