Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid involved in cell signaling, and blood clotting or coagulation. Phosphatidylserine is produced by reactions with phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Conversely, phosphatidylserine can also give rise to phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, although in animals the pathway to generate phosphatidylcholine from phosphatidylserine only operates in the liver.
Generally, phosphatidylserine is low in children in the autism spectrum but the balance of phosphatidyethanolamine and phosphatidylserine is shifted in these children. There may be genetic causes (MARK/PAR1 kinases, PTEN) that cause conversion problems. B6, zinc and SAH allow phosphatidyethanolamine to convert readily to phosphatidylserine. These nutrients are low in children on the autism spectrum.
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