What happens when you take ginkgo with phosphatidylserine?
This is a synergy pairing rather than a clash. The interaction is about absorption: phosphatidylserine appears to help more of ginkgo's active compounds reach the bloodstream, so the same amount of ginkgo can produce a slightly larger and faster effect.
- Ginkgo carries two active classes. Standardized ginkgo biloba extract contains flavone glycosides (which act as antioxidants) and terpene lactones (ginkgolides and bilobalide, which support cerebral microcirculation and modulate neurotransmission). On their own, both classes are only modestly absorbed when taken by mouth.
- Phosphatidylserine acts as a lipid carrier. Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid naturally concentrated in brain cell membranes. When ginkgo is complexed with it, the resulting compound crosses the intestinal lining more efficiently.
- More of the active fraction reaches the blood. Because absorption improves, a given amount of ginkgo delivers more of its active compounds than the same amount taken alone.
- The cognitive effect is modest, not dramatic. In testing, the complexed form outperformed ginkgo alone on memory measures, but the size of the benefit was small and was seen in healthy young volunteers over a single day.
Why is this important?
Most ginkgo on the shelf is taken alone, and many older ginkgo trials produced underwhelming results. The interesting possibility raised by the phosphatidylserine pairing is that some of that disappointment may reflect poor absorption rather than a true lack of effect.
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, balanced-crossover trial, healthy young adults received ginkgo alone, ginkgo complexed with phosphatidylserine, ginkgo complexed with phosphatidylcholine, or placebo on separate days. Ginkgo alone did not clearly beat placebo, but the phosphatidylserine complex produced measurable improvements in memory performance and speed across the post-dose testing sessions. The phosphatidylcholine version was weaker, which suggests phosphatidylserine specifically — not just any phospholipid — is the useful carrier here.
The honest framing: this is a single small acute study in healthy young people. It is encouraging and biologically plausible, but it is not proof of a meaningful, lasting cognitive benefit. Treat the pairing as a reasonable, low-risk experiment rather than an established therapy.
What should you do?
The practical move is simple — take the two together, with food — but the more important points are the safety caveats around ginkgo.
Before you change anything: If you take an anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug (such as warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, or a direct oral anticoagulant), do not add ginkgo without clearing it with your doctor first — ginkgo has antiplatelet activity and can add to bleeding risk. Likewise check with your clinician before starting if you take anti-seizure medication or an antidepressant.
Every day you take it: Take the standardized ginkgo extract and phosphatidylserine together, alongside a meal containing some fat. The fat improves absorption of both, and taking them at the same meal mirrors how the combination was studied. Once-daily timing is fine; allow several weeks of consistent use before judging whether you notice any benefit.
Before any change in your routine — especially surgery: Stop ginkgo well in advance of any planned surgery or dental procedure (generally about a week, but follow your surgeon's specific guidance) to reduce bleeding risk. If you start a new prescription medication, mention the ginkgo to your pharmacist so they can check for interactions.
Which specific products are affected?
On the ginkgo side, look for a standardized extract rather than raw ginkgo leaf powder, whose active content is dilute and inconsistent. The most-studied standardized extract is EGb 761, sold in Europe under brand names such as Tebonin and Tanakan; several manufacturers produce extracts standardized to the same flavone-glycoside and terpene-lactone profile.
On the phosphatidylserine side, soy-derived phosphatidylserine is the dominant market form, and sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine is a soy-free alternative. The original branded ginkgo-phosphatidylserine complex (Virtiva) is no longer widely available, so in practice most people take a standardized ginkgo extract plus a separate phosphatidylserine softgel at the same meal — a reasonable approximation of the studied combination.
The science behind it
The central evidence is a single trial. Kennedy and colleagues at Northumbria University ran a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced-crossover study in 28 healthy young adults, comparing ginkgo alone, ginkgo complexed with phosphatidylserine, ginkgo complexed with phosphatidylcholine, and placebo. Ginkgo alone did not clearly outperform placebo, whereas the phosphatidylserine complex improved secondary memory and the speed of memory task performance across post-dose sessions; the phosphatidylcholine version was less effective.
That is essentially the whole evidence base for this specific pairing: one well-designed but small acute study in young, healthy volunteers. It supports the absorption-carrier mechanism and a modest memory effect, but it does not establish a benefit in older adults, in people with cognitive concerns, or over the long term.
Primary source: Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Mauri PL, Scholey AB. Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine. Human Psychopharmacology. 2007;22(4):199-210. (PubMed ID 17457961.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is taking ginkgo with phosphatidylserine dangerous?
The combination itself is low-risk for most healthy adults — phosphatidylserine does not add a known interaction hazard. The cautions come from ginkgo on its own: it can increase bleeding risk, especially alongside blood thinners or before surgery.
How much should I take?
This article does not give specific milligram amounts on purpose. Supplement potency and the right amount for you depend on the product and your health situation, so use the dose on a reputable standardized product's label and confirm it with your doctor or pharmacist.
Will this noticeably improve my memory?
Possibly a little, but keep expectations modest. The supporting trial found small improvements on memory tasks in healthy young people over a single day. There is no strong evidence of a large or lasting cognitive boost.
Does it matter whether the phosphatidylserine is from soy or sunflower?
For the absorption effect, both forms supply phosphatidylserine. Sunflower-derived phosphatidylserine is the practical choice if you want to avoid soy.
Can I take them at different times of day?
You can, but the studied benefit came from taking them together. Taking both with the same fat-containing meal is the more sensible approach if you want to mirror the evidence.
Who should avoid this combination?
Anyone on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, anyone with a planned surgery, and anyone taking anti-seizure or antidepressant medication should not start it without medical advice — again, because of ginkgo, not phosphatidylserine.
Key takeaways
- Phosphatidylserine appears to improve absorption of ginkgo's active compounds, so the pairing is a synergy rather than a conflict.
- In one small trial, the ginkgo-phosphatidylserine complex produced modest memory improvements where ginkgo alone did not — but this is a single acute study in healthy young adults, not proof of lasting benefit.
- Take the two together with a meal containing some fat; allow several weeks before judging any effect.
- The real safety concerns come from ginkgo: avoid it with blood thinners, stop it well before surgery, and check with your clinician if you take anti-seizure or antidepressant medication.
- Use the amount on a reputable standardized product's label and review it with your doctor or pharmacist.