By
Julie Thibeau

The new buzz around the market seems to be "Theanine". So what exactly is L-Theanine? L-Theanine is a unique amino acid commonly found in Green Tea.

First introduced centuries ago in Southeast Asia, tea has become the most widely consumed beverage worldwide aside from water and it is now cultivated in more than 30 different countries.

Tea leaves are a natural source of L-Theanine, however, only 1 – 2 % of the dry weight of tea leaves consists of L-Theanine. It is a very time consuming and expensive process to extract L-Theanine from tea leaves, and impossible to yield a 100% purity naturally.

One of the pioneers of Green Tea Extract, Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan, has developed a patented enzymatic technology to synthesize 100% pure L-Theanine (Suntheanine^®), sold through NutriScience Innovations, LLC.

Suntheanine^® is structurally identical to the L-Theanine compound naturally found in tea.

L-Theanine was first discovered in tea leaves in 1950 and was given food additive approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare since 1964.

Suntheanine^® has been extensively researched and documented with over 45 different studies currently available. Most areas of research include cancer adjuvant therapy, reducing stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation, improving learning and concentration, etc.

It should be noted that all research was conducted using Suntheanine^® (100% pure L-Theanine) and not L-Theanine from Green Tea Extract.

HOW SUNTHEANINE^® WORKS:

Suntheanine^® is absorbed through the brush-border membrane in the large intestine and transported directly to the brain where it stimulates the generation of Alpha brain waves.

The brain transmits four different categories of brain waves which are determined by frequency: Gamma (), Theta (), Alpha (a) and Beta (). Gamma waves are present during sound sleep and Theta waves indicated dozing or sleeping. While Beta waves are present during an awake, excited state, Alpha waves signify an awake, relaxed state.

Because Suntheanine^® promotes Alpha wave generation in the brain, an awake, alert and relaxed physical and mental condition is achieved. Dosage of Suntheanine^® is effective at 50 – 200 mg and its effects are exhibited within 30 – 40 minutes of consumption.

RESEARCH:

Suntheanine^® has been shown to work antagonistically against the negative side effects of caffeine and ephedrine. After injecting mice with Suntheanine^® intraperitoneally or subcutaneiously, Kimura and Murata reported that Suntheanine^® effectively decreased convulsions induced by high doses of caffeine and the spontaneous

motor activity produced by lower caffeine doses. Suntheanine^® has also been found effective in reducing the hypertension and disturbance of sleep often associated with the use of caffeine.

Suntheanine^® also diminishes the normal symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome. In a study conducted in cooperation with Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., University of Shizuoka and The Family Planning Institute of Japan, it was found that 200 mg Suntheanine^® per day significantly reduced physical, mental and social symptoms of PMS such as insomnia, muscle stiffness, cramps, depression, anxiety, irritability, etc.

It has also been found that Suntheanine^® enhances the anti-tumor activity of such anticancer drugs as doxorubicin, idarubicin and adriamycin.

Mice with ovarian sarcoma injected with adriamycin alone did not exhibit tumor weight reduction. When the mice were injected with a combination of adriamycin and Suntheanine^®, tumor weight was reduced by 62%. It was determined that Suntheanine^® increased adriamycin concentration in the tumors, but decreased adriamycin concentration in healthy tissues, exhibiting its effectiveness in clinical chemotherapy.

PATENTS & STRUCTURE/FUNCTION CLAIMS:

Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan has been awarded several manufacturing and use patents for Suntheanine^®, which they have begun to strictly enforce. The patents cover several applications which include reducing anxiety, suppressing behavior problems of pets, reducing PMS symptoms, promoting relaxation, etc.

In addition, several Structure/Function claims have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration which include:

1. Reduces stress
2. Promotes relaxation without drowsiness
3. Eases nervousness due to common every day overwork and fatigue
4. Reduces nervous irritability

APPLICATIONS:

Currently, Suntheanine^® is marketed in capsule form in the US. It is sold in over 50 different food products in Japan and Korea including beverages, candy, chocolate, chewing gum and ice cream.

It has been determined that no degradation resulted when beverages containing Suntheanine^® were heated at 121° C for five minutes. Suntheanine^® is also stable in solutions ranging from 3.0 to 6.6 on the pH scale and is 100% soluble in water.

SAFETY:

LD50, a classification of acute ingestion toxicity, determined Suntheanine^® to be greater than 5,000 mg/Kg, causing no "significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury".

Suntheanine^® has several advantages over other stress reducing supplements.

Recent reports suggest that Kava Kava may be linked to hepatotoxicity in such cases as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver failure.

Valerian has a tendency to promote sleep and drowsiness and may also impair motor function. In addition, Kava Kava, Valerian and St. John's Wort may have severe contraindications with alcohol, OTC and prescription drugs.

Suntheanine^® is 100% safe with no known drug interactions, side effects or any limit of duration of administration. Suntheanine^® promotes relaxation safely, without causing drowsiness or impairing cognitive or motor function.

Suntheanine^® was awarded Nutraceutical of the Year at Nutracon 2000 and the Food Ingredient Research Award at the FIE 1998.