Amino Acids – Thea

Supplement Facts:
Servings per container: 90
Serving size: 1 capsule

Each capsule contains:
L-Theanine: 500mg

Other ingredients: gelatin (bovine)

L-Theanine – more than just a relaxation amino acid

L-Theanine is typically known for its benefits on focus, relaxation, memory, and calm alertness. While these benefits are pretty well documented and enjoyed by many, there is actually more to this great Theanine story.

Theanine, which is an abundant amino acid found predominantly in green tea, has also been found to have the benefits of lowering cholesterol, bile acid regulation, liver protection, metabolic improvement, and anti-obesity (sources in references section below).

Now, back to the cognitive benefits. Instead of regurgitating the same old story, we’ll start off with some quotes from one of our greatest influences, the late and great Dr. Ray Peat.

“The tea amino acid, theanine, suppresses serotonin by supporting the effects of GABA.”

Further

“The GABA system restrains the production of cortisol, which is typically increased in depression. GABA-supporting drugs that had been used to treat epilepsy are turning out to have anti-depressive, mood-elevating effects”

“Drugs (such as piracetam) that promote GABA’s effects are called “nootropins,” or cognitive enhancers, and have been used to treat brain damage and mental retardation”

Ray understood deeply the interplay in these hormonal and neurotransmitter systems, which is how he was able to synthesize the benefit of Theanine through his knowledge of GABA, serotonin, and glutamate (from his May 2008 newsletter: The GABA System, defenses, and tissue renewal).

This provides us with a novel perspective on how Theanine may be able to achieve its benefits on cognition, memory, mood, focus, relaxation, and neuroprotection.

Next, its benefits on the liver are documented but seldom talked about. Two studies in specific show L-Theanine preventing alcoholic liver injury by increasing the antioxidant capacity of liver tissue, and the slowing of liver aging by reversing inflammation, oxidative stress, and inhibiting advanced glycation end-products.

A third study showed protective effects on acute liver injury by normalizing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, as well as lowering lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response markers such as C-reactive protein, nitric oxide, TNF-A, and IL-10.

L-Theanine Benefits:

– Stress management*
– Calm attentiveness*
– Focus and Memory*
– Mood elevation*
– Regulation of caffeine overstimulation*
– Neuroprotection*
– Liver protection*
– Bile acid regulation*
– Improved lipid metabolism*

References:

1. Wang D, Gao Q, Zhao G, Kan Z, Wang X, Wang H, Huang J, Wang T, Qian F, Ho CT, Wang Y. Protective Effect and Mechanism of Theanine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Acute Liver Injury in Mice. J Agric Food Chem. 2018 Jul 25;66(29):7674-7683. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b02293. Epub 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 29969892.

2. Li G, Ye Y, Kang J, Yao X, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Gao M, Dai Y, Xin Y, Wang Q, Yin Z, Luo L. l-Theanine prevents alcoholic liver injury through enhancing the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012 Feb;50(2):363-72. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.10.036. Epub 2011 Oct 14. PMID: 22019691.

3. Li MY, Liu HY, Wu DT, Kenaan A, Geng F, Li HB, Gunaratne A, Li H, Gan RY. L-Theanine: A Unique Functional Amino Acid in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) With Multiple Health Benefits and Food Applications. Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 4;9:853846. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.853846. PMID: 35445053; PMCID: PMC9014247.

4. Liang J, Gu L, Liu X, Yan X, Bi X, Fan X, Zhou J, Lu S, Luo L, Yin Z. L-theanine prevents progression of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis by regulating hepatocyte lipid metabolic pathways via the CaMKKβ-AMPK signaling pathway. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2022 Apr 15;19(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s12986-022-00664-6. PMID: 35428314; PMCID:
PMC9013079.

5. Zeng L, Lin L, Peng Y, Yuan D, Zhang S, Gong Z, Xiao W. l-Theanine attenuates liver aging by inhibiting advanced glycation end products in d-galactose-induced rats and reversing an imbalance of oxidative stress and inflammation. Exp Gerontol. 2020 Mar;131:110823. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110823. Epub 2019 Dec 31. PMID: 31899338.

6. Unno K, Iguchi K, Tanida N, Fujitani K, Takamori N, Yamamoto H, Ishii N, Nagano H, Nagashima T, Hara A, Shimoi K, Hoshino M. Ingestion of theanine, an amino acid in tea, suppresses psychosocial stress in mice. Exp Physiol. 2013 Jan;98(1):290-303. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2012.065532. Epub 2012 Jun 15. PMID: 22707502.

7. Peng WQ, Xiao G, Li BY, Guo YY, Guo L, Tang QQ. l-Theanine Activates the Browning of White Adipose Tissue Through the AMPK/α-Ketoglutarate/Prdm16 Axis and Ameliorates Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice. Diabetes. 2021 Jul;70(7):1458-1472. doi: 10.2337/db20-1210. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PMID: 33863801.

8. Yang L, Zhang L, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Huang X, Yan Q, Tan Z, Tang S, Wan F. Alterations in nutrient digestibility and performance of heat-stressed dairy cows by dietary L-theanine supplementation. Anim Nutr. 2022 Aug 11;11:350-358. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2022.08.002. PMID: 36329682; PMCID: PMC9618971.

9. Xu W, Kong Y, Zhang T, Gong Z, Xiao W. L-Theanine regulates lipid metabolism by modulating gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism. J Sci Food Agric. 2023 Feb;103(3):1283-1293. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.12222. Epub 2022 Sep 23. PMID: 36087337.

10. Zhang G, Miura Y, Yagasaki K. Effects of dietary powdered green tea and theanine on tumor growth and endogenous hyperlipidemia in hepatoma-bearing rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2002 Apr;66(4):711-6. doi: 10.1271/bbb.66.711. PMID: 12036040.

*These statements are not approved or regulated by the FDA or Health Canada. 

Reference: LifeBlud