What is l-theanine?
L-theanine is an amino acid which is predominantly found in the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis), making up about 50% of the amino acid content in the tea plant.
The l-theanine content in green tea contributes to the main flavour of it.
Important l-theanine facts
- L-theanine is non-protein amino acid
- L-theanine is sold in Japan as a supplement to help with mood regulation
- L-theanine is a derivative of glutamic acid
- L-theanine increases levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and GABA in the brain
Why l-theanine is important
L-theanine possesses strong antioxidant properties and has demonstrated in various studies that it has anti-cancer properties as well as being ale to positively enhance the activity of some anti-cancer drugs and decreased tumour size more than just in experiments with the anti-cancer drugs alone.
L-theanine’s effect on certain neurotransmitters could be a reason why it is thought to be able to regulate mood.
A recent study on lab rats demonstrated that even high doses of L-theanine administered at repeated intervals did not cause any toxic effects.
Other research suggests that L-theanine naturally stimulates activity in the brain known as alpha waves, which are associated with a relaxed yet alert mental state.
