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Theanine
Scientific names: Theanine
Alternate names: 2-Amino-4- (ethylcarbamoyl) Butyric Acid, 5-N-ethylglutamine, Gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid, Gamma-glutamylethylamide, Gamma-N-ethylglutamine, L-gamma-glutamylethylamide, L-Theanine, L-Théanine, N-Éthyl-L-Glutamine, Teanina, Théanine
Actions: Anticancer, Antidepressant, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Attention, Cardiovascular, Cognitive, Immunomodulating, Neurological/CNS, Weight loss
Background
Theanine is an amino acid found in tea and some mushrooms. It comes in two forms: L-theanine and D-theanine. L-theanine is the most common form.
Theanine is similar to glutamate, a naturally occurring amino acid. Glutamate helps transmit nerve impulses in the brain. Theanine sometimes acts like glutamate in the body. But other times it seems to block the effects of glutamate. Theanine might also affect the brain chemicals GABA, dopamine, and serotonin.
People use L-theanine to improve mental function. It is also used for anxiety, mental impairment, stress, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse theanine with another amino acid called threonine. These are not the same.
Theanine is similar to glutamate, a naturally occurring amino acid. Glutamate helps transmit nerve impulses in the brain. Theanine sometimes acts like glutamate in the body. But other times it seems to block the effects of glutamate. Theanine might also affect the brain chemicals GABA, dopamine, and serotonin.
People use L-theanine to improve mental function. It is also used for anxiety, mental impairment, stress, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse theanine with another amino acid called threonine. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: L-theanine is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of up to 900 mg daily have been safely used for 8 weeks. It isn't clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods of time. It might cause mild side effects, such as headache or sleepiness.
Children: L-theanine is possibly safe when taken by mouth, short-term. Doses of 400 mg daily have been safely used for up to 6 weeks in males aged 8-12 years.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if theanine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: L-theanine is possibly safe when taken by mouth, short-term. Doses of 400 mg daily have been safely used for up to 6 weeks in males aged 8-12 years.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Taking L-theanine by mouth might help healthy people stay focused. It isn't clear if adding L-theanine to caffeine works better than using either of those ingredients alone.
Dosing & administration
L-theanine is naturally found in tea and some mushrooms. As medicine, L-theanine has most often been used by adults in doses of 200-400 mg by mouth daily for 4-8 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Theanine might lower blood pressure. Taking theanine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Some medications, called sedatives, can cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. There is some concern that theanine might also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. But most research hasn't shown this effect. For now, use theanine with caution if you are taking sedative medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Theanine might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Practitioner product
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Per 7 g (Mango Pineapple):
- L-theanine 100 mg
- Withania somnifera 1.5 g
- Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) 1 g
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 500 mg
- Lepidium meyenii 1.5 g
- Calcium ascorbate 1 g
- Cordyceps sinensis 750 mg
- Rhodiola rosea 500 mg
- Magnesium citrate 300 mg
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) 40 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 20 mg
- Natural flavours
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Stevia rebaubiana
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Per 4 g (Mango Passionfruit):
- Camellia sinensis (Green tea)
- L-tyrosine 500 mg
- Acetyl L-carnitine (Acetyl-L-carnitine)
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Theobroma cacao powder 40 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P)
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Piper nigrum 5 mg
- Folate
- Methylcobalamin (Activated B12) 5 µg
- Hordeum vulgare 15 mg
- Gamma-Butyrobetaine (GBB) 15 mg
- Coffea arabica equiv. caffeine 150 mg
- Alpinia galanga powder 150 mg
- Orthosilicic acid (Silica)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Xanthan gum
- Chromium picolinate
- Natural flavours
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300 g Chocolate
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Per 6 g:
- Hydrolysed collagen
- Camellia sinensis 1.32 g
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Pouteria lucuma (fruit) powder
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Hippophae rhamnoides
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
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Practitioner product
Per 7.5 g (Lemon Lime):
- Camellia sinensis (Green tea) ext. 250 mg equiv. theanine 55 mg
- Total UltraMag®
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 1739 mg equiv. magnesium 200 mg
- Magnesium glycerophosphate 966 mg equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Calcium glycerophosphate 298.5 mg equiv. calcium 50 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 35 mg equiv. zinc 7 mg
- Myo-inositol 1 g
- Taurine 500 mg
- Choline bitartrate 300 mg
- Glycine 250 mg
- Alpha casozepine enriched hydrolysed milk protein (Lacticum) 75 mg
Practitioner product
Per 3.5 g (Chocolate):
- Camellia sinensis (Green tea) ext. 125 mg equiv. theanine 50 mg
- Ocimum tenuiflorum ext. 105 mg
- Tanacetum parthenium ext. 25 mg
- Curcumin (Turmeric) 10 mg
- Dimethyl sulfone (MSM) 60 mg
- Lavandula angustifolia ext. 100 mg
- Theobroma cacao ext. 520 mg
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 117.94 mg
- L-leucine 100 mg
- Magnesium citrate 705.74 mg equiv. magnesium 80 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- Thiamine nitrate (Vitamin B1) 18.51 mg equiv. thiamine 15 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 15 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 30.39 mg equiv. pyridoxine 25 mg
- Folic acid 150 μg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 50 μg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Camellia sinensis (Green tea) ext. 113.75 mg equiv. theanine 25 mg
- Thiamine nitrate (Vitamin B1) 100 mg equiv. thiamine 81.1 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 50 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 150 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 110 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 100.8 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 75 mg equiv. pyridoxine 61.7 mg
- Folic acid 150 µg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 150 µg
- Biotin 150 µg
- Choline bitartrate 137.5 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
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