D-Serine for Health & Longevity - Quick Reference Sheet

D-Serine for Health & Longevity

Created on 07/25/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 4.8 Audit

D-serine is an amino acid the brain uses for learning and memory, and its natural supply falls with age. Restoring it reverses memory decline in aged animals, but human evidence is thin and mixed. A kidney-safety concern seen in rats has rarely appeared in people, leaving it a promising but unproven option for brain aging. (Full Review)

Protocol

Dose
30–60 mg/kg/day
≈2 g for a typical adult; dose-finding ceiling 120 mg/kg/day
Timing
Morning / daytime
Divided daytime doses; no clear evening advantage
Frequency
Split, twice-daily
≈4-hour half-life; sustains exposure across the day
Time to effect
Age-related cognition
Weeks
Builds over weeks of consistent use
Acute attention
Hours
Within hours of a single dose

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Chronic kidney disease / reduced filtering (eGFR below 60)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Active seizure disorders
  • Established neurodegenerative disease
Key Interactions
  • Kidney-stressing drugs (NSAIDs, aminoglycoside antibiotics, iodinated contrast)
  • D-amino acid oxidase inhibitors (sodium benzoate, luvadaxistat)
  • Other co-agonist-site supplements (glycine, sarcosine, D-cycloserine)
  • NMDA-receptor blockers (memantine, dextromethorphan, ketamine)

Risk & Side Effects

  • High:
  • Medium: Nephrotoxicity
  • Low: NMDA-receptor overactivation and excitotoxicity; gastrointestinal discomfort
  • Speculative: Cardiometabolic and other systemic effects; contribution to neurodegenerative pathology

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥90 mL/min/1.73m² Gates eligibility; detects any decline in kidney filtering
Serum creatinine ≈0.6–1.0 mg/dL Core marker of filtering capacity feeding the eGFR estimate
Cystatin C Within reference range Confirms filtering independent of muscle mass
Urinalysis (protein, granular casts) Absent Detects early kidney-tube injury before blood markers move
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ≈7–18 mg/dL Supporting marker of kidney clearance and hydration

Cadence: Kidney labs and urinalysis at 1–2 weeks, again at 4–6 weeks, then every 3–6 months during continued use

Qualitative Assessment

  • Subjective memory and word-finding
  • Mental clarity and focus during the day
  • Mood and motivation
  • Sleep quality
  • Any change in urine output or unexplained fatigue (possible early kidney signal)