L-Theanine, Enzymatic Therapy

L-Theanine is an amino acid that helps promote a mild, restful, relaxed state without diminishing daytime alertness. It's free of the side effects commonly associated with other relaxing agents.

Suntheanine, a patented form of L Theanine, is a trademark of Taiyo International, Inc.
Promotes relaxation and stress reduction

Supplement Facts
L Theanine - 100 mg*
   (Suntheanine brand)

Click here to purchase L Theanine at Physician Formulas

Orally administered theanine is absorbed through the intestinal tract and hydrolyzed in the liver to glutamic acid and ethylamine. Ethylamine, a molecule that primes the response of an immune system element called the gamma-delta T cell, which may protect against infection.

L-theanine benefit
L-theanine or theanine is a major amino acid found in green tea. L-theanine increases brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels and has micromolar affinities for AMPA, Kainate and NMDA receptors. Some animal studies hint that l-theanine can help learning and memory.

Theanine might be useful for preventing ischemic neuronal damage.
Theanine increases the idarubicin-induced antitumor activity and ameliorates its toxicities.

Human research with theanine is limited, and hence the clinical usefulness of theanine is not clear at this time (October 2007).

Theanine Research Update
Anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea, catechins, caffeine and theanine, in mice.
Zheng G. hizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Shizuoka-shi 422-8529, Japan.
In Vivo. 2004 Jan-Feb;18(1):55-62.
To elucidate the anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea, catechins, caffeine and theanine, female ICR mice were fed on diets containing 2% green tea powder and diets containing 0.3% catechins, 0.05% caffeine and 0.03% theanine, which correspond, respectively, to their concentrations in a 2% green tea powder diet, singly and in combination for 16 weeks. Body weight and food intake were determined monthly during this period, kidneys, adrenals, liver, spleen, brain, pituitary and intraperitoneal adipose tissues (IPAT) were weighed and lipid levels in the serum and liver were measured at the end of this period. The body weight increase and weight of IPAT were significantly reduced by the diets containing green tea, caffeine, theanine, caffeine + catechins, caffeine + theanine and caffeine + catechins + theanine. Noticeably, the IPAT weight decreased by 76.8% in the caffeine + catechins compared to the control group. Serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were decreased by green tea, catechins and theanine. Moreover, caffeine + catechins, caffeine + theanine and caffeine + catechins + theanine also decreased NEFA in the serum. The TG level in the liver was significantly reduced by catechins and catechins + theanine in comparison with the control. These results indicated that at least caffeine and theanine were responsible for the suppressive effect of green tea powder (GTP) on body weight increase and fat accumulation. Moreover, it was shown that catechins and caffeine were synergistic in anti-obesity activities.

L theanine supplement questions
Q. Q. Recently, I've been experimenting with 50 mg of 5-HTP for social anxiety and depression and have found it have a potent effect on anxiety. Although it is beneficial, I seem to have trouble with mental fog (particularly memory, even while on a Ginkgo supplement) at this dosage and also excess sweating. I've read that serotonin is also involved in the regulation of body temperature and hypothesize that the sweating is a direct result of that since I've had problems with profuse sweating while on SSRIs in the past, even on dosages as low as 2.5 mg of Lexapro and 12.5 mg of Zoloft, which caused me to discontinue the medications altogether. I've been wanting to give L-Theanine a try (by itself) for social anxiety and stress since I've read that it can also cross the blood-brain barrier and affect dopamine and GABA levels. Is this true, and if so, how long should i give this supplement a try before determining if it's effective for me? If I've been on 50 mg of 5-HTP for about a week, can you tell me generally how long before i should try the L-Theanine by itself after discontinuing the 5-HTP?
   A. There are no definitive answers. Usually a week is a good enough time to determine whether a supplement is working or not. Sometimes the dosage needs to be decreased with long term use since the effects start to accumulate. L Theanine is a good supplement and some people do like the effects. 5-HTP side effects are dosage dependent and sometimes lower amounts work quite well with minimal side effects. How theanine supplements influences brain chemicals in the brain is not too clear for me since I have see little research in this area.

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