Phosphatidylethanolamine is a cell-membrane building block, not a drug. Human evidence rests almost entirely on one form drawn from scallop, sea squirt and krill, given in milligram amounts: small trials point to modest gains in memory, mood and concentration. A larger trial in early memory loss did not confirm its main measure. Those studies were industry-funded, none independently repeated. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanolamine plasmalogen (blood or red cell) | No established target; rise of 20% or more from own baseline | Only direct evidence the dose is reaching the circulation |
| Omega-3 Index | 8–12% | Marine sources deliver the long-chain fats that the ether subclass carries; a low index signals slow turnover |
| ALT | 10–26 U/L in men, 7–23 U/L in women | The hepatic phospholipid ratio is the one animal-documented harm pathway |
| Ferritin | 30–100 ng/mL | Iron is the catalyst that peroxidises polyunsaturated phosphatidylethanolamine |
| Fasting triglycerides | Below 80 mg/dL | Marine phospholipid lowers them; a rise suggests an oxidised or poorly absorbed product |
| Homocysteine | Below 9 µmol/L | Converting phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine consumes three methyl groups per molecule; relevant to bulk lecithin dosing |
Cadence: Alanine aminotransferase and ferritin at baseline, repeated at 3 months, then every 6 to 12 months if stable. Memory assessment and blood plasmalogen at 12 weeks and again at 6 months. On an anticoagulant, a clotting-time check 4 weeks after starting.