Taking l-theanine supplements has been found to help you improve your mental performance, increase your mood, and lower your blood pressure. There are many benefits to using this supplement, but it can also interact with other medications.
Background
Among its many health benefits, L-theanine has been shown to improve working memory. It also reduces stress and anxiety. Its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier suggests that it has the potential to promote neurotransmitter signaling in the brain. It may also have therapeutic applications for treating cardiovascular disease.
L-theanine is a derivative of the amino acid glutamine. It was first isolated from the aqueous solution of dried tea leaves in the late 1940s. It is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that can be synthesized from ethylamine or pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.
L-theanine has been lauded as a useful ingredient in functional foods, such as beverages. It may play a role in promoting cardiovascular health, as well as reducing stress and anxiety. It is also known to affect the way the brain processes information, and increase the alpha waves in the brain. It is believed to be effective as an ergogenic aid in high-performance sports.
L-theanine may be the l-momentary all-star, but its effects are only partially understood. One study found that it has the capacity to bind with taste receptors to produce a “umami” flavor. Another found that a single dose of 200 mg l-theanine significantly improved performance in a laboratory task. However, no studies have yet been conducted to determine the effects of L-theanine on sleep. Its ability to boost cognition and promote relaxation is also worthy of further investigation.
L-theanine is also a good dietary supplement, as it has a number of neuroprotective roles. It can be absorbed slowly and gradually into the bloodstream, so it can improve cognitive functioning and enhance recovery after intense physical exercise. Unlike caffeine, it is not a stimulant. This makes it ideal for easing the effects of baseline anxiety.
Mood stabilizing effects
Several studies have found L-theanine has mood stabilizing effects, and it is also believed to have neuroprotective properties. The amino acid is naturally found in green tea, black tea, and some mushrooms. It is believed to reduce stress levels and improve sleep. It also increases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is thought to play a role in mood.
L-theanine has also been shown to improve cognitive performance. It has been suggested that it may act as a partial agonist for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which is involved in the regulation of neurotransmitters. It may also increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor and GABA levels. In addition, it has been known to modulate the monoamine system, the glycine system, and the glutamate system.
A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience explored the combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine. It investigated the performance of 27 subjects, ranging from 35 to 60 years of age, after consuming 50 mg of caffeine and 100 mg of L-theanine for three days. After the study, the researchers concluded that both substances improve performance on problem-solving tasks. They also found that L-theanine increases mental focus and has mood stabilizing effects.
Another study examined the effect of L-theanine on post-traumatic stress disorder. It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry. The participants were divided into two groups: one group received a placebo, while the other group received 50 mg of caffeine and 100 mg of L-theanine.
The results showed that the L-theanine group improved its performance on BACS verbal fluency and letter fluency. It was also found that the SDS and PSQI scores showed a non-statistically significant trend toward improvement.
Blood pressure reduction
Several studies have shown that L-theanine reduces blood pressure in animals. However, it’s hard to know for sure whether the benefits of L-theanine translate into better health for humans.
Despite the potential benefits, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of L-theanine and to understand its interaction with other food components. Also, more research needs to be done to understand how L-theanine affects the autonomic nervous system.
In order to evaluate the best dosage of L-theanine for an individual, it’s important to consider their body weight. Using a consistent dose for an entire kilogram of body weight should theoretically maximise the biological effects of L-theanine.
L-theanine can be used to treat both high and low blood pressure. In addition, it may be helpful to lower stress. Moreover, L-theanine may help improve the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. In particular, it has been proposed that L-theanine reduces stress responses in the autonomic nervous system.
In a study conducted in Shizuoka, Japan, researchers tested the blood pressure-lowering effect of caffeine and L-theanine. Participants took either caffeine and placebo or caffeine and L-theanine, respectively. They were then asked to perform a mental task.
The study used a cross-over randomized placebo-controlled design. Interestingly, the caffeine-L-theanine combination decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the AMT6 and AMT5 periods, whereas the caffeine-L-theanine combo failed to do the same in the AMT4 period.
Although the caffeine-L-theanine combination was found to have a positive impact on blood pressure, it did not have a big enough effect to be considered a game-changer. In terms of the gimmick, the study’s only big claim was the caffeine-L-theanine combo’s ability to decrease blood pressure by reducing psychological stress.
Boost mental performance
Boost mental performance with L-theanine: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of L-theanine supplementation on attention. Subjects were asked to perform an attentional task and were given either a l-theanine solution or a placebo. The results indicated that the l-theanine treatment cleared out the placebo on both the visual and audio attentional tasks.
A one way repeated measures ANOVA was performed on the pre-dose and baseline data. During the first 15 minutes, the response to the attentional task was measured. Afterward, the reaction time response was measured. The l-theanine treatment resulted in a lower change in the ratio of the reaction time response to the attentional task.
The l-theanine treatment also produced a significant improvement in the alpha band activity. This is a type of brain wave that is associated with relaxation and creativity. In addition, it may also reduce anxiety and reduce inflammation.
In a second study, the effect of L-theanine on cognitive performance was examined. Eight volunteers in the high anxiety propensity group and 10 volunteers in the minimal anxiety propensity group were tested. In the high anxiety propensity group, the subjects showed a significantly higher alpha band activity. In the minimal anxiety propensity group, the subjects showed little change.
Subjects in both groups were subjected to an electroencephalographic (EEG) recording of the alpha band. Their heart rate was also recorded. After the experimental tasks, the participants were provided with a rest period of 10 minutes. This allowed them to re-practice the attentional task.
Boost mental performance with L-theanine: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in China. Subjects were recruited from 12 provinces. They ranged in age from 35 to 60 years. They were instructed to abstain from drinking tea beverages for 24 hours before the experiment.
Interactions with medications
Generally, L-theanine interactions with medications are not harmful. But, it is always important to talk to your physician before taking any supplement. It is also a good idea to start with the smallest recommended dose and gradually increase the dosage as needed to achieve your desired effect.
Studies have shown that L-theanine decreases stress and anxiety. It can also lower the blood pressure. In addition, it improves mental focus and attention. It may even protect brain cells from age-related damage. However, more research is needed to determine how it interacts with other chemicals and medications.
L-theanine is an amino acid found in black and green tea. It is considered to be safe to take, but it has been reported to cause “theanine brain fog.” Some people experience a mild headache and dizziness, but it does not have dangerous interactions with other medications.
In addition, L-theanine may have beneficial effects on sleep. It can increase relaxation and lower heart rate. Some of the chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol, are affected by L-theanine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for alertness, concentration, and mood.
In addition, L-theanine can interfere with the effectiveness of certain medications. It can also decrease the amount of dopamine and serotonin that are present in the body. It can even interfere with hormone levels, which can lead to low blood pressure. If you are taking medications to treat high blood pressure, or any other medical condition, make sure to discuss the use of L-theanine with your doctor.
In addition, L-theanine has been shown to attenuate blood pressure increases in adults responding to high stress. Researchers compared caffeine and L-theanine to see how they impacted participants’ ability to complete mental tasks. They used a cross-over randomized, placebo-controlled design. They divided participants into two groups based on their changes in blood pressure. The participants were administered a caffeine + placebo combination, as well as L-theanine.
