Effects of l -Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Abstract

l-theanine (γ-glutamylethylamide), an amino acid in green tea, has been shown to affect brain functions by relieving stress disorders, improving mood, and maintaining normal sleep. However, the cognitive functions for which theanine is effective are unclear. This study aimed to clarify which cognitive functions are positively affected by intake of l-theanine. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted. The subjects were Japanese men and women aged 50–69 years. Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese version score was 24 or higher. Cognitrax was used as a test battery for cognitive function. Evaluations were performed before the intervention, after a single dose of l-theanine, and after 12 weeks of regular intake. The single dose of l-theanine reduced the reaction time to attention tasks (Stroop test, Part 1), and it increased the number of correct answers and decreased the number of omission errors in working memory tasks (4-Part continuous performance test, Part 4). In conclusion, our study indicated that l-theanine may contribute to improving attention, thus enhancing working memory and executive functions. Clinical Trial No.: UMIN000033812.

Introduction

l-theanine is a nonproteinogenic amino acid contained in green tea¹ and mushrooms.² Among the different tea varieties in Japan, gyokuro and matcha contain more l-theanine than sencha.³ l-theanine affects brain functions.⁴ Studies in mice indicate that it improves behavior under stress conditions,⁵ suppresses deterioration of learning ability under social stress,⁶ and improves memory impairment.⁷

The epidemiologic Nakajima⁸ and Tsurugaya studies⁹ in Japan indicated that green tea may improve age-related cognitive impairment. In addition, the Hisayama study warned about a recent increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD).^10,11 Prevention of AD is an important problem worldwide, and it is necessary to seek a solution.

Green tea contains several substances that affect cognitive function, including caffeine,^12,13 l-theanine,^7,14 and catechin.^15,16 Caffeine transiently improves performance after intake¹⁷ and has a substantial benefit on cognitive function. Our previous study indicated that the regular intake of matcha may improve attention.¹⁸ However, in that study, subjects did not consume matcha on the day of the test, suggesting that the improvement in attention was not a transient effect of caffeine but involved other components of the tea. A further implication would be that the regular intake of the tea is also a factor responsible for the observed improvement in attention.

l-theanine has been previously reported to have a neuroprotective effect. Because it suppresses delayed neuronal cell death in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis 1 area after transient ischemia,¹⁹ reduces excitotoxicity by suppressing the extracellular release of glutamate through inhibition of the glutamine transporter,²⁰ and promotes neurogenesis,²¹ l-theanine can potentially reduce cognitive impairment. However, there are many uncertainties about the effects of l-theanine on human cognitive function.

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the intake of l-theanine, which has a neuroprotective effect, affects the cognitive processes of attention, working memory, and executive function. In addition, to investigate whether the single response was associated with cognitive function after regular ingestion, we compared the results of a single-dose and regular ingestion.

Materials And Methods

The study was conducted at the Tokyo Skytree Station Medical Clinic (Tokyo, Japan) and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Nihonbashi Egawa Clinic (Tokyo, Japan; Approval No.: food-18071704). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki from August 8, 2018 to December 6, 2018. The study was registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network (Tokyo, Japan).

Test food

l-theanine (trade name: Suntheanine; Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., Mie, Japan) was used as the test food. Suntheanine contains ≥98% l-theanine and was encapsulated into hard No. 1 porcine gelatin capsules and used for the test. A placebo was dispensed into the same type capsules as l-theanine, and corn starch was used as the excipient in both the theanine and placebo capsules. Each theanine capsule contained 100.6 mg of l-theanine. The test food was manufactured at Sunsho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Shizuoka, Japan).

Subjects

Sixty-nine Japanese men and women certified as healthy by a physician based on hematological and biochemical blood test results and with self-assessed declined cognitive function were initially enrolled.

Of these, subjects with a Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese version (MMSE-J) score ≥24 were included, while those who had food allergies or were taking medication or undergoing treatment were excluded.

The subjects participated in the study on their own initiative after receiving a full explanation of the study.

Study design

A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled parallel group study was conducted. The primary end points were the results of MMSE-J and Cognitrax, and the secondary end points were blood levels of amyloid β 1–40 [Aβ (1–40)], Aβ 1–42 [Aβ (1–42)], secreted form of amyloid-β precursor protein α (sAPPα), amyloid-β precursor protein 770 (APP770), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A computer-generated stratified randomized schema (Huma R&D Corp., Tokyo, Japan; Contract Research Organization) was used to assign the subjects to either the placebo or the l-theanine group, with matching based on age, sex, and MMSE-J score. The study flow diagram are shown in Figure 1.

FIG. 1.

Study flow diagram.

Subjects took one capsule per day of placebo or l-theanine for 12 weeks. They took the test food after breakfast. When they did not eat breakfast, they took the test food in the morning. Subjects were required to enter into the web input system (Huma R&D Corp.), using a personal computer (PC), whether they had taken the test food. During the test period, the subjects were free to consume polyphenol-containing beverages (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc.), but subjects were restricted from taking any health foods, supplements, or medications that might affect cognitive function.

Evaluation items

The evaluation items are shown in Table 1. On the day of the single-dose study, the Cognitrax test was started ∼50 min after capsule intake. Except for taking the capsule before undergoing the tests, the tests were performed in the same order at week 12. Hematologic tests and biochemical blood parameter measurements were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks as a safety evaluation at SRL, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan).

Table 1.

Evaluation Scheme of the Clinical Trial

	−1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
Ingestion on test day		•
Medical interview	•	•	•
Height	•
Weight	•	•	•
Vital signs	•	•	•
Blood sampling^a	•		•
MMSE-J	•		•
Cognitrax test	•	•	•

On the day of the test, evaluations marked with circles were implemented. Tests were carried out in the order listed in the table.

Blood sampling was performed for hematologic tests (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) and evaluation of biochemical blood parameters (total protein, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, uric acid, urea nitrogen, total bilirubin, albumin, creatinine, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin).

MMSE-J, Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese version.

Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese version

MMSE-J (Nihon Bunka Kagakusha Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese version of MMSE,²² and its validity and test–retest reliability have been confirmed in Japan.²³ The test consists of 11 items: time orientation, location orientation, memorization, attention and calculation, recall, naming, repetition, three-stage command, reading, writing, and copying, and it is evaluated with the total score. Two tests of attention and calculation were used: the backward spelling task and the serial sevens task, respectively. The score for the backward spelling task was used for allocation of subjects into the placebo or theanine group.^22,23

Cognitrax test

Cognitrax²⁴ is a test to evaluate cognitive function, developed by the U.S. company CNS Vital Signs (Morrisville, NC, USA). It comprises 10 test items with accompanying instructions. It measures both reaction time and number of responses. Reaction time is measured in milliseconds. The test items were ordered as follows: verbal memory (VBM), visual memory (VIM), finger tapping test (FTT), symbol digit coding (SDC), Stroop test (ST), shifting attention test (SAT), continuous performance test (CPT), perception of emotions test (POET), nonverbal reasoning test (NVRT), four-part CPT (FPCPT), VBM, and VIM. These items assess various cognitive functions—VBM and VIM assess memory; ST, SAT, CPT, and FPCPT Parts 1 and 2 assess attention; POET assesses facial expression recognition; FPCPT Parts 3 and 4 assess working memory; SDC and NVRT assess visual information processing; and FTT assesses motor function.

The first VBM and VIM performed are indicative of immediate memory, while the last is indicative of delayed memory. There were ∼50 min between the first-performed VBM and VIM and the last-performed VBM and VIM. Details of the test are shown in Table 2.

Table 2.

Cognitrax Test Instructions

Task	Approximate time required (min)	Overview
VBM	3	First, memorize 15 words. Then, from the 30 words that appear at random, select the word you remembered.
VIM	3	Graphic version of the VBM test
Finger Tapping	2	Quickly tap the key for 10 sec with your index finger. Do this with both right and left hands.
SDC	4	Enter the number corresponding to the symbol while referring to the symbol-to-number correspondence table.
Stroop	5	It consists of Parts 1–3. Part 1 is pressing the key when the character appears. (Red, yellow, blue, and green letters written in black are displayed.) Parts 2 and 3 display the letters red, yellow, blue, and green written in red, yellow, blue, and green. Part 2 is pressing the key when matches, letters, and colors match. Part 3 is pressing the key when letters and colors do not match.
Shifting attention	3	Follow the instructions on the screen and select the option that matches the color or shape. It is a combination of red, blue, yellow, and green letters and colors.
Continuous Performance	5	Random letters of the alphabet are displayed one by one. Press the key only when B is displayed.
Perception of Emotions	2	The photo of a face and a word describing facial expression are displayed. The word used may be “calm,” “happy,” “sad,” or “angry.” Press the key only if the photo and description match. We evaluated positive emotions (calm and happiness), negative emotions (sadness and anger), and their sums.
Nonverbal Reasoning	3	One of the four sections is blank and three have symbols. Five examples are displayed on the screen. Subjects look at the examples and choose the ones that are closest to the three symbols.
Four-Part Continuous Performance	7	It consists of Parts 1–4. Part 1 is pressing the key when the figure appears. Part 2 is pressing the key when a green circle appears. Part 3 is 1-back task. Part 4 is 2-back task. Shapes are displayed for Parts 3 and 4. Shapes are a combination of circles, triangles, squares, and star shapes and red, blue, yellow, and green colors.

SDC, symbol digit coding; VBM, verbal memory; VIM, visual memory.

Biomarkers related to dementia

On the day of the test, the subjects were restricted from eating from 6 h before arriving at the hospital until the completion of the test. Serum blood collection tubes were used to estimate BDNF levels, while ethylenediamine tetra-acetate disodium tubes were used for Aβ (1–40), Aβ (1–42), sAPPα, and APP770 measurements. The blood was centrifuged at 3000 rpm (Kokusan Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, H-19Ra). The measurement was performed using kits with the following dilutions: the blood sample for Aβ (1–40) was diluted 20 times with human Aβ (1–40) Full Length (FL) Assay Kit-IBL; the blood sample for Aβ (1–42) was diluted 4 times with human Aβ (1–42) (FL) Assay Kit-IBL; the blood sample for sAPPα was diluted four times with sAPPα (highly sensitive) Assay Kit-IBL; the blood sample for APP770 was diluted 50 times with human APP770 Assay Kit-IBL; and the blood sample for BDNF was diluted 20 times with human BDNF Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit (Quantikine-R&D Systems). Any measured value below the kit range was excluded due to inaccuracy. The measurement was carried out by Skylight Biotech, Inc. (Akita, Japan). The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3.

Effects of l-Theanine on Biomarkers

Group	N	–1 Week (baseline)	12 Weeks	Amount of change from baseline
Plasma Aβ (1–40) (pg/mL)
Placebo	22	219 ± 56	210 ± 65	–9.21 ± 35
Theanine	26	243 ± 175	205 ± 94	–38.6 ± 105
Plasma Aβ (1–42) (pg/mL)
Placebo	3	11.6 ± 5.8	22.7 ± 10.5	11.2 ± 9.4
Theanine	9	21.6 ± 21	46.0 ± 59	24.3 ± 52
Aβ(1–42)/Aβ(1–40)
Placebo	10	0.04 ± 0.03	0.09 ± 0.04	0.05 ± 0.02
Theanine	12	0.08 ± 0.06	0.24 ± 0.31	0.16 ± 0.27
Plasma sAPPα (ng/mL)
Placebo	25	8.07 ± 4.1	9.82 ± 3.1	1.75 ± 2.4
Theanine	22	8.38 ± 3.3	10.2 ± 4.7	1.80 ± 4.7
Plasma APP770 (ng/mL)
Placebo	23	29.2 ± 13	28.9 ± 9.1	–0.32 ± 8.5
Theanine	26	30.6 ± 12	28.6 ± 10	–1.95 ± 11
Serum BDNF (ng/mL)
Placebo	24	18.2 ± 14	24.3 ± 11	6.07 ± 18
Theanine	26	21.8 ± 12	20.5 ± 12	–1.30 ± 18

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Aβ, amyloid-β; APP770, Aβ precursor protein 770; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; sAPPα, secreted form of Aβ precursor protein α; SD, standard deviation.

Statistical analysis

The values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The unpaired t-test or Mann–Whitney U test was used to calculate P values, with Bonferroni correction (P < .05/3 = 0.017). This was performed at baseline, single-dose test, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Results

The final analysis comprised 24 subjects in the placebo group (11 men and 13 women; average age, 57.9 ± 6.3 years) and 26 subjects in the theanine group (12 men and 14 women; average age, 57.7 ± 4.8 years).

MMSE-J (interactive test)

There was no significant difference in MMSE-J scores between the theanine and placebo groups before and after the intervention (placebo group: before the intervention, 27.7 ± 1.8; after the intervention, 28.3 ± 1.5; theanine group: before the intervention, 27.7 ± 1.4; after the intervention, 28.0 ± 1.6).

Cognitrax test (PC-based cognitive function test)

Attention task

In the single-dose study, ST (Part 1) reaction times were significantly lower in the theanine group than in the placebo group (Table 4). Therefore, a single dose of l-theanine was sufficient to improve attention.

Table 4.

Performance on Attention Tasks

Task		Group	–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
ST (Part 1)	Simple reaction time (A)	Placebo	411 ± 145	365 ± 62.0	337 ± 43.8
		Theanine	378 ± 138	337 ± 84.0^*	328 ± 59.6
(Part 2)	Complex reaction time correct (B)	Placebo	734 ± 124	706 ± 133	679 ± 80.1
		Theanine	706 ± 122	667 ± 97.8	650 ± 70.1
(Part 3)	Stroop reaction time correct (C)	Placebo	841 ± 129	809 ± 98.2	788 ± 91.1
		Theanine	802 ± 121	761 ± 120	754 ± 106
	Stroop commission errors	Placebo	1.23 ± 1.6	0.96 ± 1.0	0.83 ± 1.1
		Theanine	0.73 ± 0.96	0.69 ± 1.0	0.77 ± 0.76
	(C/B) × 100	Placebo	115 ± 13	116 ± 14	117 ± 13
		Theanine	115 ± 14	115 ± 12	116 ± 10
	(A/B) × 100	Placebo	55.4 ± 14	52.2 ± 7.2	50.2 ± 7.9
		Theanine	52.9 ± 11	50.3 ± 7.4	50.4 ± 7.0
SAT	Correct responses	Placebo	41.0 ± 8.3	46.3 ± 6.8	46.8 ± 7.4
		Theanine	45.0 ± 8.0	48.6 ± 5.0	50.2 ± 5.4
	Errors	Placebo	5.7 ± 5.0	3.9 ± 4.0	3.8 ± 4.0
		Theanine	4.7 ± 3.6	4.0 ± 2.4	3.3 ± 2.0
	Correct reaction time	Placebo	1266 ± 144	1151 ± 121	1144 ± 163
		Theanine	1167 ± 157	1067 ± 132	1045 ± 134
CPT	Correct responses	Placebo	38.8 ± 2.3	39.5 ± 0.8	39.7 ± 0.6
		Theanine	39.6 ± 1.4	39.8 ± 0.5	39.7 ± 1.0
	Omission errors	Placebo	1.15 ± 2.3	0.46 ± 0.81	0.29 ± 0.62
		Theanine	0.38 ± 1.4	0.15 ± 0.46	0.31 ± 0.97
	Commission errors	Placebo	0.54 ± 0.95	0.38 ± 0.75	0.29 ± 0.55
		Theanine	0.15 ± 0.46	0.15 ± 0.37	0.27 ± 0.45
	Choice reaction time correct	Placebo	511 ± 50.7	500 ± 43.8	493 ± 42.1
		Theanine	492 ± 80.4	483 ± 72.1	474 ± 47.7
FPCPT (Part 1)	Average correct response time	Placebo	403 ± 91	394 ± 100	359 ± 48
		Theanine	409 ± 132	359 ± 62	347 ± 53
(Part 2)	Correct responses	Placebo	5.7 ± 1.1	5.9 ± 0.3	5.7 ± 1.2
		Theanine	5.8 ± 0.8	6.0 ± 0.2	5.8 ± 1.2
	Average correct response time	Placebo	486 ± 62	461 ± 50	440 ± 105
		Theanine	476 ± 95	440 ± 75	420 ± 96
	Incorrect responses	Placebo	0.38 ± 0.75	0.15 ± 0.37	0.42 ± 1.1
		Theanine	0.23 ± 0.86	0.15 ± 0.61	0.04 ± 0.20
	Average incorrect response time	Placebo	144 ± 253	68.3 ± 171	74.3 ± 175
		Theanine	36.7 ± 134	31.6 ± 117	16.7 ± 85
	Omission errors	Placebo	0.31 ± 1.1	0.08 ± 0.27	0.29 ± 1.2
		Theanine	0.19 ± 0.80	0.04 ± 0.20	0.23 ± 1.2

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

P < .05/3 = 0.017 versus placebo group. P values were calculated using the unpaired t-test or Mann–Whitney U test and Bonferroni correction.

CPT, continuous performance test; FPCPT, four-part continuous performance test; SAT, shifting attention test; ST, stroop test.

Working memory tasks

In the single-dose FPCPT (Part 4), correct responses were significantly higher and omission errors were significantly lower in the theanine group than in the placebo group. In FPCPT (Part 4), compared to baseline, the theanine group had a significantly lower change in average incorrect response time in the single-dose study than the placebo group (Table 5). After single dose ingestion, l-theanine affected the quality of working memory, producing shorter reaction times and more correct answers.

Table 5.

Performance on Working Memory Tasks

						Amount of change from baseline
Task		Group	–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
FPCPT (Part 3)	Correct responses	Placebo	14.9 ± 2.0	15.2 ± 1.2	15.6 ± 0.6
		Theanine	14.8 ± 2.3	15.9 ± 0.3	15.7 ± 0.8
	Average correct response time	Placebo	629 ± 196	577 ± 89	556 ± 85
		Theanine	594 ± 135	542 ± 101	535 ± 84
	Incorrect responses	Placebo	0.15 ± 0.61	0.19 ± 0.40	0.04 ± 0.20
		Theanine	0.27 ± 1.2	0.00 ± 0.00	0.08 ± 0.27
	Average incorrect response time	Placebo	66.6 ± 236	172 ± 433	32.5 ± 159
		Theanine	38.0 ± 136	0.0 ± 0.0	127 ± 564
	Omission errors	Placebo	1.12 ± 2.0	0.77 ± 1.2	0.42 ± 0.58
		Theanine	1.15 ± 2.3	0.12 ± 0.33	0.27 ± 0.83
(Part 4)	Correct responses	Placebo	12.0 ± 2.3	12.1 ± 2.2	12.5 ± 2.6	0.2 ± 2.3	0.8 ± 2.7
		Theanine	11.8 ± 3.4	13.4 ± 2.8^*	13.3 ± 2.0	1.6 ± 2.5	1.5 ± 3.4
	Average correct response time	Placebo	698 ± 117	691 ± 129	659 ± 111
		Theanine	704 ± 173	676 ± 162	625 ± 98
	Incorrect responses	Placebo	1.6 ± 1.6	1.6 ± 1.2	1.7 ± 1.7
		Theanine	1.6 ± 1.9	1.4 ± 1.6	1.5 ± 1.4
	Average incorrect response time	Placebo	581 ± 431	769 ± 448	467 ± 428	188 ± 497	−91.0 ± 448
		Theanine	742 ± 511	584 ± 504	653 ± 415	−158 ± 590^*	−88.8 ± 756
	Omission errors	Placebo	4.0 ± 2.3	3.9 ± 2.2	3.5 ± 2.6	−0.2 ± 2.3	−0.8 ± 2.7
		Theanine	4.2 ± 3.4	2.6 ± 2.8^*	2.7 ± 2.0	−1.6 ± 2.5	−1.5 ± 3.4

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

P < .05/3 = 0.017 versus placebo group. P values were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test and Bonferroni correction.

l-theanine had no effect on performance in the memory tasks (Table 6), facial expression recognition task (Table 7), visual information processing tasks (Table 8), and motor function (Table 9) either immediately or following chronic ingestion.

Table 6.

Performance on Memory Tasks

Task		Group	–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
VBM	Correct hits—immediate	Placebo	10.3 ± 2.4	11.1 ± 1.9	11.3 ± 1.7
		Theanine	10.2 ± 2.0	11.3 ± 1.8	11.4 ± 1.3
	Correct passes—immediate	Placebo	14.7 ± 0.6	14.6 ± 0.7	14.4 ± 1.2
		Theanine	14.7 ± 0.7	14.5 ± 0.9	14.6 ± 0.8
	Correct hits—delay	Placebo	8.8 ± 3.5	9.4 ± 2.7	10.5 ± 2.3
		Theanine	9.5 ± 2.7	10.4 ± 2.0	10.8 ± 2.2
	Correct passes—delay	Placebo	14.5 ± 0.9	14.0 ± 1.2	14.2 ± 1.5
		Theanine	14.0 ± 1.5	13.4 ± 1.9	13.8 ± 2.3
VIM	Correct hits—immediate	Placebo	10.1 ± 2.0	10.1 ± 2.1	10.3 ± 1.8
		Theanine	9.5 ± 2.6	9.9 ± 2.0	9.4 ± 2.5
	Correct passes—immediate	Placebo	13.0 ± 1.5	12.4 ± 2.2	12.5 ± 1.8
		Theanine	12.8 ± 2.3	12.4 ± 1.7	12.6 ± 2.3
	Correct hits—delay	Placebo	9.0 ± 2.9	9.9 ± 2.1	9.8 ± 2.2
		Theanine	9.3 ± 2.9	9.2 ± 2.5	9.0 ± 2.5
	Correct passes—delay	Placebo	11.5 ± 2.5	10.9 ± 2.6	10.3 ± 2.6
		Theanine	11.5 ± 2.8	11.7 ± 2.5	10.9 ± 3.1

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Table 7.

Performance on the Facial Expression Recognition Task

Task		Group	–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
POET	Correct responses	Placebo	10.4 ± 1.5	10.1 ± 1.8	10.1 ± 1.3
		Theanine	10.5 ± 1.3	10.5 ± 1.4	10.7 ± 1.1
	Average correct reaction time	Placebo	1247 ± 151	1242 ± 218	1265 ± 159
		Theanine	1197 ± 165	1143 ± 158	1180 ± 158
	Omission errors	Placebo	1.6 ± 1.5	1.9 ± 1.8	1.9 ± 1.3
		Theanine	1.5 ± 1.3	1.5 ± 1.4	1.3 ± 1.1
	Commission errors	Placebo	3.1 ± 2.3	3.1 ± 2.4	3.1 ± 1.8
		Theanine	3.7 ± 2.8	4.2 ± 3.2	3.7 ± 2.8
Positive emotions	Correct hits	Placebo	5.5 ± 0.8	5.4 ± 0.7	5.2 ± 1.0
		Theanine	5.3 ± 0.8	5.6 ± 0.7	5.4 ± 0.9
	Reaction time	Placebo	1239 ± 165	1232 ± 225	1232 ± 208
		Theanine	1207 ± 223	1158 ± 173	1167 ± 185
Negative emotions	Correct hits	Placebo	4.8 ± 1.2	4.7 ± 1.4	4.9 ± 1.0
		Theanine	5.2 ± 1.0	4.9 ± 1.1	5.3 ± 0.7
	Reaction time	Placebo	1266 ± 206	1239 ± 246	1285 ± 187
		Theanine	1186 ± 198	1121 ± 162	1191 ± 195

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Table 8.

Performance on Visual Information Processing Tasks

Task			–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
SDC	Correct responses	Placebo	54.8 ± 8.7	59.3 ± 7.8	59.3 ± 9.8
		Theanine	58.3 ± 6.5	61.5 ± 6.8	63.0 ± 6.0
	Errors	Placebo	0.77 ± 0.95	0.62 ± 1.1	1.29 ± 1.5
		Theanine	0.62 ± 0.85	0.96 ± 1.2	1.04 ± 1.3
NVRT	Correct responses	Placebo	9.3 ± 1.7	9.2 ± 2.3	8.9 ± 2.4
		Theanine	9.9 ± 1.9	9.4 ± 2.4	10.3 ± 1.5
	Average correct reaction time	Placebo	4204 ± 1055	4019 ± 1025	3559 ± 837
		Theanine	4300 ± 1083	4098 ± 1251	4034 ± 597
	Commission errors	Placebo	4.9 ± 2.1	5.5 ± 2.5	5.9 ± 2.4
		Theanine	4.7 ± 2.0	5.4 ± 2.3	4.5 ± 1.6
	Omission errors	Placebo	0.73 ± 0.87	0.35 ± 0.69	0.17 ± 0.38
		Theanine	0.38 ± 0.70	0.15 ± 0.37	0.23 ± 0.59

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Table 9.

Performance on Motor Function Tasks

Task		Group	–1 Week (baseline)	0 Week (single dose)	12 Weeks
FTT	Right taps average	Placebo	54.7 ± 8.2	55.5 ± 7.3	56.9 ± 7.2
		Theanine	55.9 ± 8.2	58.7 ± 5.4	59.1 ± 7.0
	Left taps average	Placebo	53.2 ± 8.5	53.0 ± 8.1	53.7 ± 7.4
		Theanine	52.4 ± 6.6	54.0 ± 5.7	54.9 ± 6.4

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

FTT, finger tapping test.

Blood biomarkers

No significant difference was observed between the placebo and theanine groups (Table 3).

Discussion

This study evaluated the effects of l-theanine on cognitive function using the Cognitrax test performed on a PC. We investigated whether the regular intake of theanine for 12 weeks could improve attentional function and which cognitive functions a single dose of theanine would affect.

A cup of green tea contains about 25 mg of theanine.²⁵ Kuriyama et al. reported that people who drink green tea have less cognitive dysfunction.⁹ In the previous report, the amount of theanine that led to an improvement in attentional function was 50.3 mg. In this study, the dose of theanine was set at 100.6 mg for the purpose of clearly showing the effect of theanine alone. A single dose of l-theanine reduced reaction time in the attention task and increased correct answers and decreased the number of omission errors in the working memory task. This suggests that l-theanine may improve working memory and executive function based on the improvement in attention.

It is interesting that caffeine,²⁶ which acts as a stimulant for neural activity, and l-theanine,²⁷ which acts as a depressant, are both contained in green tea. Several studies have reported synergistic effects of caffeine and l-theanine on cognition and mood,²⁸ as well as on tasks related to attentional function.¹⁸ Our results suggest that l-theanine by itself improves working memory. It remains possible that the improvement in attention, as described previously,¹⁸ may have contributed to this effect. In this study, after 12 weeks of regular ingestion, theanine had no effect on the processes related to attentional function as previously reported, even though our subjects had ages and MMSE scores similar to those of subjects in previous studies. The difference in this effect may have been due to the combined effect of caffeine and theanine or catechin and theanine, but details of such interactions are unknown, and further investigation is required.

Studies that explored brain activity have previously reported that l-theanine intake increases α-wave activity.^29,30 A study by Gomez-Ramirez et al. ³¹ found that subjects who ingested 250 mg of l-theanine had increased α-wave activity for the attention task to be performed. Furthermore, a study that used a visuospatial task also showed that the intake of 250 mg of l-theanine contributed to sustained attention.³² Although increased α-wave activity does not simply indicate wakefulness in the brain, l-theanine may affect selective or sustained attentional function. In this study, a significant decrease in reaction time was observed for ST (Part 1), which indicates sustained attention and provides further support for the effects of l-theanine on attentional function. It will therefore be necessary to use neurophysiological techniques to study how the regular intake of theanine affects nervous system activity.

According to a study by Baddeley,³³ working memory is composed of three factors: a phonological loop for language information processing, a visuospatial sketch pad for visuospatial information processing, an episodic buffer, and a central executive system that integrates the other three parts. The central executive system is considered to be related to attention control. The effects observed in the two-back task (FPCPT, Part 4) are the results of l-theanine contributing to the improvement of working memory through distribution of attention resources and movement of focus of attention, that is, efficient shifting. Based on this observation, it is also necessary to examine brain activity during task execution using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Because attention and working memory are closely related,³⁴ it is difficult to consider them separately. It is therefore necessary to examine, in more detail, attentional function and working memory, which were found to be improved by l-theanine in this study.

The limitations of this study involve subject age and cognitive function status. This study was conducted in middle-aged and older subjects who were aware of a decline in their cognitive function. Previous studies tested elderly people, including those who had mild cognitive impairment³⁵ or vascular dementia,³⁶ to verify whether green tea powder could improve cognitive function. In the future, a comparative study on the preventive or restorative effects of l-theanine in younger adults, the aged, and patients with mild cognitive impairment must also be considered. We also could not explain why regular administration of l-theanine was necessary, as is accepted for epidemiological studies. Future studies are therefore required to investigate the differential effects of single dose and daily intake of l-theanine on brain structure and cognitive function.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the individuals who participated in the study and the clinical research coordinator, Huma R&D Corp. The authors thank Editage for English language editing.

Author Disclosure Statement

ITO EN, Ltd. covered the testing costs and provided the test food as the study sponsor. Huma R&D Corp., Contract Research Organization, conducted subject recruitment, selection, allocation, observation, and data collection. Kureha Special Laboratory Co., Ltd. conducted statistical analysis. T.K. was the principal investigator for this study and was contracted by Huma R&D to conduct the study. The study was performed by a third party. The remaining authors report that no competing financial interests exist.

Funding Information

The authors have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.

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