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Dassanayake TL, Wijesundara D, Kahathuduwa CN, Weerasinghe VS. Dose-response effect of L-theanine on psychomotor speed, sustained attention, and inhibitory control: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Nutr Neurosci 2023; 26:1138-1146. [PMID: 36263942 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2022.2136884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND L-theanine is a non-protein-forming amino acid found in tea. Previous research shows high doses (100-400 mg) of L-theanine enhances attention, mainly by reducing mind wandering and distracter processing. We hypothesized that these indirect mechanisms could significantly improve the performance of low-level attentional tasks, whereas the relative contribution could be less in complex attentional tasks that require active, higher-order processing of target stimuli. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, four-way crossover study in 32 healthy young adults, where we compared the effects of three doses of L-theanine (100, 200 and 400 mg) with a placebo (distilled water), administered before and 50 min after dosing, on three attentional tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery [viz. Reaction Time (RTI)-visuomotor speed, Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP)-sustained attention, and Stop Signal Task (SST)-inhibitory control]. Results were analyzed in dose × time repeated measures ANOVA models, with subsequent pairwise comparisons. RESULTS Active doses significantly improved reaction times in the RTI (100-200 mg) and RVP (200-400 mg) tasks from baseline (p < 0.05), but once controlled for the change-from-baseline caused by placebo, only the RTI simple reaction times showed significant improvements, following 100 mg (Δ = 16.3 ms, p = 0.009) and 200 mg (Δ = 16.9 ms, p = 0.009) of L-theanine. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with our hypothesis, these findings suggest that L-theanine significantly improves attention in simple visuomotor tasks, but not in more complex sustained attention tasks, or executive control tasks that require top-down inhibition of pre-active responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharaka L Dassanayake
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Devasmitha Wijesundara
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Chanaka N Kahathuduwa
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Laboratory Science and Primary Care, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Vajira S Weerasinghe
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Effects of Caffeine on Performances of Simulated Match, Wingate Anaerobic Test, and Cognitive Function Test of Elite Taekwondo Athletes in Hong Kong. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14163398. [PMID: 36014906 PMCID: PMC9414007 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine on performances of simulated match, Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), and cognitive function test of elite taekwondo athletes. Ten elite taekwondo athletes in Hong Kong volunteered to participate in two main trials in a randomized double-blinded crossover design. In each main trial, 1 h after consuming a drink with caffeine (CAF) or a placebo drink without caffeine (PLA), the participants completed two simulated taekwondo match sessions followed by the WAnT. The participants were instructed to complete three cognitive function tests, namely the Eriksen Flanker Test (EFT), Stroop Test, and Rapid Visual Information Processing Test, at baseline, before exercise, and immediately after the simulated matches. They were also required to wear functional near-infrared spectroscopy equipment during these tests. Before exercise, the reaction time in the EFT was shorter in the CAF trial than in the PLA trial (PLA: 494.9 ± 49.2 ms vs. CAF: 467.9 ± 38.0 ms, p = 0.035). In the WAnT, caffeine intake increased the peak power and mean power per unit of body weight (by approximately 13% and 6%, respectively, p = 0.018 & 0.042). The performance in the simulated matches was not affected by caffeine intake (p = 0.168). In conclusion, caffeine intake enhances anaerobic power and may improve certain cognitive functions of elite taekwondo athletes in Hong Kong. However, this may not be enough to improve the simulated match performance.
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Dasdelen MF, Er S, Kaplan B, Celik S, Beker MC, Orhan C, Tuzcu M, Sahin N, Mamedova H, Sylla S, Komorowski J, Ojalvo SP, Sahin K, Kilic E. A Novel Theanine Complex, Mg-L-Theanine Improves Sleep Quality via Regulating Brain Electrochemical Activity. Front Nutr 2022; 9:874254. [PMID: 35449538 PMCID: PMC9017334 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.874254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
L-Theanine is commonly used to improve sleep quality through inhibitory neurotransmitters. On the other hand, Mg2+, a natural NMDA antagonist and GABA agonist, has a critical role in sleep regulation. Using the caffeine-induced brain electrical activity model, here we investigated the potency of L-theanine and two novel Mg-L-theanine compounds with different magnesium concentrations on electrocorticography (ECoG) patterns, GABAergic and serotonergic receptor expressions, dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin levels. Furthermore, we evaluated the sleep latency and duration in the pentobarbital induced sleep model. We herein showed that L-theanine, particularly its various complexes with magnesium increases the expression of GABAergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic receptors, which were associated with decreased ECoG frequency, increased amplitude, and enhanced delta wave powers. Besides increased dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin; decreased MDA and increased antioxidant enzyme levels were also observed particularly with Mg-complexes. Protein expression analyses also showed that Mg-L-theanine complexes decrease inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels significantly. In accordance with these results, Mg complexes improved the sleep latency and duration even after caffeine administration. As a result, our data indicate that Mg-L-theanine compounds potentiate the effect of L-theanine on sleep by boosting slow-brain waves, regulating brain electrical activity, and increasing neurotransmitter and GABA receptor levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sezgin Er
- International School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berkan Kaplan
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Suleyman Celik
- International School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Caglar Beker
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cemal Orhan
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Tuzcu
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nurhan Sahin
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Havakhanum Mamedova
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sarah Sylla
- Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition21, LLC, Purchase, NY, United States
| | - James Komorowski
- Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition21, LLC, Purchase, NY, United States
| | - Sara Perez Ojalvo
- Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition21, LLC, Purchase, NY, United States
| | - Kazim Sahin
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ertugrul Kilic
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey,*Correspondence: Ertugrul Kilic, ;
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4
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Dassanayake TL, Kahathuduwa CN, Weerasinghe VS. L-theanine improves neurophysiological measures of attention in a dose-dependent manner: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Nutr Neurosci 2022; 25:698-708. [PMID: 32777998 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2020.1804098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Objective: L-theanine, a non-proteinic amino acid found in tea, is known to enhance attention particularly in high doses, with no reported adverse effects. We aimed to determine whether oral administration of L-theanine acutely enhances neurophysiological measures of selective attention in a dose-dependent manner.Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, 4-way crossover study in a group of 27 healthy young adults, we compared the effects of 3 doses of L-theanine (100, 200 and 400 mg) with a placebo (distilled water) on latencies of amplitudes of attentive and pre-attentive cognitive event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded in an auditory stimulus discrimination task, before and 50 min after dosing.Results: Compared to the placebo, 400 mg of theanine showed a significant reduction in the latency of the parietal P3b ERP component (p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed with lower doses. A subsequent exploratory regression showed that each 100-mg increase in dose reduces the P3b latency by 4 ms (p < 0.05). No dose-response effect was observed in P3b amplitude, pre-attentive ERP components or reaction time.Discussion: The findings indicate L-theanine can increase attentional processing of auditory information in a dose-dependent manner. The linear dose-response attentional effects we observed warrant further studies with higher doses of L-theanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharaka L Dassanayake
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.,School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Chanaka N Kahathuduwa
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.,Department of Laboratory Science and Primary Care, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Vajira S Weerasinghe
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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5
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Fraporti TT, Bandeira CE, Tovo-Rodrigues L, Martins-Silva T, Hutz MH, Rohde LA, Bau CHD, Grevet EH, da Silva BS, Rovaris DL, Dresch F, Contini V, Genro JP. Caffeine-related genes influence anxiety disorders in children and adults with ADHD. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 145:353-360. [PMID: 34801255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders (AD) frequently co-occur, increasing morbidity and challenging treatment. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and acts in the brain through adenosine receptors, influencing attention, alertness, and anxiety. In the present study, we performed a gene-set analysis to verify if genes related to caffeine response are associated with anxiety disorders in 240 children and 406 adults with ADHD. We demonstrated an association between the gene-set with AD in children (P = 0.0054) and with the number of anxiety disorders in adults (P = 0.0197). In order to test if this effect is a result of anxiety in general or is related to AD comorbid with ADHD, we evaluated the association between caffeine gene-set with AD in an adult control sample. The gene-set was neither associated with the AD presence (P = 0.3008) nor with the number of AD (P = 0.5594) in this control sample. We also test this gene set with ADHD (n = 55,374) and AD (n = 18,186) GWAS summary statistics, and we did not observe significant results with ADHD (P = 0.5587) or AD (P = 0.3930). These findings suggest the caffeine-related genes play a role in the etiology of an anxiety disorder phenotype present in children and adults with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thailan Teles Fraporti
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cibele Edom Bandeira
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Thais Martins-Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Mara Helena Hutz
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luis Augusto Rohde
- ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, Brazil; Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Claiton Henrique Dotto Bau
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eugenio Horacio Grevet
- ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Bruna Santos da Silva
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; ADHD and Developmental Psychiatry Programs, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diego Luiz Rovaris
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Graduate Program in Human Physiology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Dresch
- Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Universidade do Vale do Taquari - Univates, Lajeado, Brazil
| | - Verônica Contini
- Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Universidade do Vale do Taquari - Univates, Lajeado, Brazil
| | - Júlia Pasqualini Genro
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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6
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Kennedy DO, Wightman EL. Mental Performance and Sport: Caffeine and Co-consumed Bioactive Ingredients. Sports Med 2022; 52:69-90. [PMID: 36447122 PMCID: PMC9734217 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The plant defence compound caffeine is widely consumed as a performance enhancer in a sporting context, with potential benefits expected in both physiological and psychological terms. However, although caffeine modestly but consistently improves alertness and fatigue, its effects on mental performance are largely restricted to improved attention or concentration. It has no consistent effect within other cognitive domains that are important to sporting performance, including working memory, executive function and long-term memory. Although caffeine's central nervous system effects are often attributed to blockade of the receptors for the inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine, it also inhibits a number of enzymes involved both in neurotransmission and in cellular homeostasis and signal propagation. Furthermore, it modulates the pharmacokinetics of other endogenous and exogenous bioactive molecules, in part via interactions with shared cytochrome P450 enzymes. Caffeine therefore enjoys interactive relationships with a wide range of bioactive medicinal and dietary compounds, potentially broadening, increasing, decreasing, or modulating the time course of their functional effects, or vice versa. This narrative review explores the mechanisms of action and efficacy of caffeine and the potential for combinations of caffeine and other dietary compounds to exert psychological effects in excess of those expected following caffeine alone. The review focusses on, and indeed restricted its untargeted search to, the most commonly consumed sources of caffeine: products derived from caffeine-synthesising plants that give us tea (Camellia sinensis), coffee (Coffea genus), cocoa (Theabroma cacao) and guaraná (Paullinia cupana), plus multi-component energy drinks and shots. This literature suggests relevant benefits to mental performance that exceed those associated with caffeine for multi-ingredient energy drinks/shots and several low-caffeine extracts, including high-flavanol cocoa and guarana. However, there is a general lack of research conducted in such a way as to disentangle the relative contributions of the component parts of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- David O. Kennedy
- Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST UK
| | - Emma L. Wightman
- Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST UK
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7
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Hong M, Zhang R, Liu Y, Wu Z, Weng P. The interaction effect between tea polyphenols and intestinal microbiota: Role in ameliorating neurological diseases. J Food Biochem 2021; 46:e13870. [PMID: 34287960 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Tea polyphenols (TP) are one of the most functional and bioactive substances in tea. The interactions between TP and intestinal microbiota suggest that probiotics intervention is a useful method to ameliorate neurological diseases. Now, numerous researches have suggested that TP plays a significant role in modulating intestinal bacteria, especially in the area of sustaining a stable state of intestinal microbial function and abundance. Furthermore, homeostatic intestinal bacteria can enhance the immunity of the host. The close reciprocity between intestinal microbiota and the central nervous system provides a new chance for TP to modulate neural-related diseases depending on intestinal microbiota. Therefore, based on the bidirectional relationship between the brain and the intestines, this review provides a new clue to solve insomnia symptoms and related neurological diseases that will enable us to better study the bidirectional effects of TP and intestinal microbiota on the improvement of host health. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides a new clue to solve insomnia symptoms and related neurological diseases that will enable us to better study bidirectional effects of TP and intestinal microbiota on the improvement of host health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Hong
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Ruilin Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Yanan Liu
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Zufang Wu
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Peifang Weng
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
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Williams J, D’Cunha NM, Anstice N, McKune A, Naumovski N. Effect of Green Tea Amino Acid L-Theanine on Physiological Responses: A Protocol for Clinical Trial. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH AND HYPOTHESIS IN MEDICINE 2020; 000:1-8. [DOI: 10.14218/erhm.2020.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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9
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Kurauchi Y, Devkota HP, Hori K, Nishihara Y, Hisatsune A, Seki T, Katsuki H. Anxiolytic activities of Matcha tea powder, extracts, and fractions in mice: Contribution of dopamine D1 receptor- and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor-mediated mechanisms. J Funct Foods 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2019.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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10
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Unno K, Furushima D, Hamamoto S, Iguchi K, Yamada H, Morita A, Pervin M, Nakamura Y. Stress-reducing effect of cookies containing matcha green tea: essential ratio among theanine, arginine, caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate. Heliyon 2019; 5:e01653. [PMID: 31111111 PMCID: PMC6512570 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The stress-reducing effect of matcha, a high-quality fine-powdered green tea, has recently been clarified by animal experiments and clinical trials. However, the effect of matcha added to confectioneries is not clear. One aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between matcha components and their stress-reducing effect in mice that were loaded with territorially-based stress. Adrenal hypertrophy, a marker of stress, was significantly suppressed in stress-loaded mice that had ingested matcha components, displaying a caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate to theanine and arginine (CE/TA) ratio of 2 or less. Another aim was to evaluate, in humans, the stress-reducing effect of matcha in cookies using test-matcha (CE/TA = 1.79) or placebo-matcha (CE/TA = 10.64). Participants, who were fifth year pharmacy college students, consumed 4.5 g of matcha in three pieces of cookie daily for 15 days. Salivary α-amylase activity, a stress marker, was significantly lower in the test-matcha group than in the placebo group. These results indicate that the CE/TA ratio of tea components is a key indicator for the suppression of stress. Moreover, matcha with a CE/TA ratio of 2 or less displays a stress-reducing effect, even if it is included in confectionery products. Such products may also benefit individuals who have no habit of drinking matcha as a beverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Unno
- Department of Neurophysiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.,Tea Science Center, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Daisuke Furushima
- Department of Drug Evaluation & Informatics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Shingo Hamamoto
- Department of Drug Evaluation & Informatics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Iguchi
- Department of Neurophysiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamada
- Department of Drug Evaluation & Informatics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Akio Morita
- Department of Functional Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan
| | - Monira Pervin
- Tea Science Center, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Yoriyuki Nakamura
- Tea Science Center, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
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11
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Schuster J, Mitchell ES. More than just caffeine: psychopharmacology of methylxanthine interactions with plant-derived phytochemicals. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:263-274. [PMID: 30213684 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In general, preparations of coffee, teas, and cocoa containing high levels of polyphenols, L-theanine and other bioactive compounds selectively enhance mood and cognition effects of caffeine. This review summarizes the bioactive components of commonly consumed natural caffeine sources (e.g. guayusa, mate and camellia teas, coffee and cocoa) and analyzes the psychopharmacology of constituent phytochemicals: methylxanthines, polyphenols, and L-theanine. Acute and chronic synergistic effects of these compounds on mood and cognition are compared and discussed. Specific sets of constituent compounds such as polyphenols, theobromine and L-theanine appear to enhance mood and cognition effects of caffeine and alleviate negative psychophysiological effects of caffeine. However, more research is needed to identify optimal combinations and ratios of caffeine and phytochemicals for enhancement of cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Schuster
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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12
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Chen X, Chen Z, Dong Z, Liu M, Yu S. Morphometric changes over the whole brain in caffeine-containing combination-analgesic-overuse headache. Mol Pain 2018; 14:1744806918778641. [PMID: 29877133 PMCID: PMC5992799 DOI: 10.1177/1744806918778641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate brain morphometric changes in medication-overuse headache with excessive intake of caffeine-containing combination analgesics. Materials and methods We recruited 32 medication-overuse headache patients overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics and 26 normal controls with matched sex and age. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted images were processed by automatic volume algorithm of brain regions over the whole brain according to the neuromorphometrics template. We explored the volume differences between groups and correlation with clinical variables. Results Medication-overuse headache patients demonstrated decreased volume in cerebellum, optic chiasm, and increased volume in right lateral orbital gyrus, left calcarine, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, right superior parietal lobe, and right temporal transverse gyrus compared with normal controls. The increased volume was primarily contributed by patients of lower headache frequency (10–20 days/month) and with no psychological comorbidities. In regression analyses, the volume of bilateral middle occipital gyrus had negative association with migraine duration, and the volume of right lateral orbital gyrus and right superior parietal lobe was negatively correlated with number of medications per month. Conclusions Volume changes of brain regions involved in affective and cognitive processing, visual and auditory perception, and pain sensory/discrimination suggested a particular role of those regions in the pathogenesis of medication-overuse headache overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics. Morphometric changes in multiple visual processing areas and volume gain in lower headache frequency and less anxiety and depression may be specific features related to overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Chen
- 1 Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiye Chen
- 1 Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,2 Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,3 Department of Radiology, Hainan Branch of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Hainan, China
| | - Zhao Dong
- 1 Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mengqi Liu
- 2 Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,3 Department of Radiology, Hainan Branch of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Hainan, China
| | - Shengyuan Yu
- 1 Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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13
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Stress-Reducing Function of Matcha Green Tea in Animal Experiments and Clinical Trials. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10101468. [PMID: 30308973 PMCID: PMC6213777 DOI: 10.3390/nu10101468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Theanine, a major amino acid in green tea, exhibits a stress-reducing effect in mice and humans. Matcha, which is essentially theanine-rich powdered green tea, is abundant in caffeine. Caffeine has a strong antagonistic effect against theanine. The stress-reducing effect of matcha was examined with an animal experiment and a clinical trial. The stress-reducing effect of matcha marketed in Japan and abroad was assessed based on its composition. The stress-reducing effect of matcha in mice was evaluated as suppressed adrenal hypertrophy using territorially-based loaded stress. High contents of theanine and arginine in matcha exhibited a high stress-reducing effect. However, an effective stress-reducing outcome was only possible when the molar ratio of caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to theanine and arginine was less than two. Participants (n = 39) consumed test-matcha, which was expected to have a stress-reducing effect, or placebo-matcha, where no effect was expected. Anxiety, a reaction to stress, was significantly lower in the test-matcha group than in the placebo group. To predict mental function of each matcha, both the quantity of theanine and the ratios of caffeine, EGCG, and arginine against theanine need to be verified.
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The Acute Effects of Caffeinated Black Coffee on Cognition and Mood in Healthy Young and Older Adults. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10101386. [PMID: 30274327 PMCID: PMC6213082 DOI: 10.3390/nu10101386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive and mood benefits of coffee are often attributed to caffeine. However, emerging evidence indicates behavioural effects of non-caffeine components within coffee, suggesting the potential for direct or synergistic effects of these compounds when consumed with caffeine in regular brewed coffee. The current randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, counterbalanced-crossover study compared the effects of regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and placebo on measures of cognition and mood. Age and sex effects were explored by comparing responses of older (61–80 years, N = 30) and young (20–34 years, N = 29) males and females. Computerised measures of episodic memory, working memory, attention, and subjective state were completed at baseline and 30 min post-drink. Regular coffee produced the expected effects of decreased reaction time and increased alertness when compared to placebo. When compared to decaffeinated coffee, increased digit vigilance accuracy and decreased tiredness and headache ratings were observed. Decaffeinated coffee also increased alertness when compared to placebo. Higher jittery ratings following regular coffee in young females and older males represented the only interaction of sex and age with treatment. These findings suggest behavioural activity of coffee beyond its caffeine content, raising issues with the use of decaffeinated coffee as a placebo and highlighting the need for further research into its psychoactive effects.
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