Dose-Response Effect of Phosphatidylserine on eSport Performance (EPS)

April 9, 2026 updated by: Lindenwood University

This study will evaluate the effects of daily phosphatidylserine supplementation on electronic gaming performance, cognitive function, sleep quality, stress-related outcomes, and autonomic responses in healthy adult gamers. Participants will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study and assigned to receive placebo, 100 mg phosphatidylserine, or 200 mg phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks.

Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, Week 3, and Week 6 and will include electronic gaming performance, cognitive function, visual analog scale ratings, sleep quality questionnaires, hemodynamic responses, and heart rate variability. The study is designed to determine whether daily phosphatidylserine supplementation can improve performance and selected physiological and psychological outcomes during prolonged electronic gaming sessions.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Electronic gaming has grown substantially in popularity, with increasing interest in nutritional strategies that may improve gaming performance, cognitive function, sleep quality, and stress management. Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid commonly derived from soy that is highly concentrated in neural tissue and has been investigated for its potential effects on cognition, stress-related responses, and mental performance. Despite growing interest in nutritional support for gamers, limited controlled research has evaluated the effects of supplementation on gaming-specific performance and related physiological outcomes.

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial designed to examine the effects of phosphatidylserine supplementation on electronic gaming performance and associated cognitive, psychological, and physiological responses. Participants will be assigned to receive placebo, 100 mg phosphatidylserine, or 200 mg phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks. All participants and study personnel involved in testing and outcome assessment will remain blinded to treatment assignment throughout the study.

Following screening and informed consent, eligible participants will complete a familiarization session during which they will practice the cognitive tests and become oriented to the gaming environment and procedures. Participants will then complete testing visits at baseline, Week 3, and Week 6. Prior to each testing visit, participants will be instructed to replicate their dietary intake for the preceding 24 hours, maintain their normal caffeine intake pattern, refrain from other stimulants not commonly consumed in their diet for 48 hours, avoid caffeine doses greater than 100 mg within 3 hours of testing, and complete a 3-hour fast before arrival.

At each testing visit, body mass, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure will be assessed. Participants will then complete sleep-related questionnaires, cognitive testing, and visual analog scales assessing fatigue, concentration, and focus. After ingestion of the assigned supplement dose, participants will undergo heart rate variability assessment and then complete two 60-minute electronic gaming sessions separated by interim testing. Hemodynamic responses, cognitive outcomes, and visual analog scale ratings will be reassessed after 60 minutes and again after 120 minutes of gaming. Heart rate variability will also be assessed following completion of the gaming session.

Electronic gaming performance will be assessed using a standardized video game protocol with predefined performance metrics recorded after each gaming period. Cognitive outcomes will include the Stroop Color and Word Test, Trail Making Test Parts A and B, and Profile of Mood States. Sleep-related outcomes will be assessed using validated questionnaires, and autonomic function will be evaluated using heart rate variability metrics. Hemodynamic responses will include heart rate and blood pressure measured under standardized conditions.

The primary objective of the study is to determine whether 6 weeks of phosphatidylserine supplementation improves electronic gaming performance, cognitive function, and subjective ratings related to fatigue, concentration, and focus compared with placebo. Secondary objectives include evaluating the effects of supplementation on sleep quality, heart rate variability, and hemodynamic responses.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

80

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Missouri
      • Saint Charles, Missouri, United States, 63301
        • Lindenwood University Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 - 40 years of age
  • Self-reported to be beginners to gaming or have no experience at all
  • Body Mass Index between 18.5 - 29.9 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Outside of age range
  • Is considered a gamer
  • Body mass index is outside of posted inclusion range
  • Noncompliance with protocol
  • Women who are currently pregnant or are actively planning to become pregnant

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator
Participants assigned to this group will ingest a placebo supplement daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.
Dietary supplement: Placebo
Participants will ingest a placebo supplement daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be consumed with approximately 8 ounces of water at a consistent time each day.
Experimental: Phosphatidylserine (100 mg)
Participants assigned to this group will ingest 100 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.
Dietary supplement: Phosphatidylserine (100 mg)
Participants will ingest 100 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be consumed with approximately 8 ounces of water at a consistent time each day.
Experimental: Phosphatidylserine (200 mg)
Participants assigned to this group will ingest 200 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks. All participants will complete identical testing procedures at baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6.
Dietary supplement: Phosphatidylserine (200 mg)
Participants will ingest 200 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be consumed with approximately 8 ounces of water at a consistent time each day.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gaming Performance Score
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Electronic gaming performance will be assessed using standardized gameplay metrics collected during 60- and 120-minute gaming sessions. Primary variables include knock-outs, falls, damage given, damage taken, hit percentage, and peak damage.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Trail Making Test Part A (Completion Time)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part A, including total time to completion.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Trail Making Test Part B (Completion Time)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part B, including total time to completion.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Trail Making Test Part A (Errors)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part A, including total number of errors.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Trail Making Test Part B (Errors)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Cognitive processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using Trail Making Test Part B, including total number of errors.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Stroop Color and Word Test Performance
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Cognitive performance will be assessed using the Stroop Color and Word Test, including response time and accuracy.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Profile of Mood States (POMS) Total Mood Disturbance Score
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Mood state will be assessed using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, with calculation of total mood disturbance score.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6
Autonomic function will be assessed using heart rate variability metrics including RMSSD, high-frequency power, low-frequency power, and LF:HF ratio.
Change from baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Lindenwood University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Chad M Kerksick, PhD, Lindenwood University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 15, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 14, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

April 14, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 21-62

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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