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Health News Archive 510 - Stress
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L-Theanine from Green Tea Beneficial for Stress

In a study, which appeared in the January 2007 edition of the journal Biological Psychology, 12 participants underwent four separate trials. In the first trial they took l-theanine at the start of the experimental procedure. In the second trial, l-theanine was taken midway. In two control trials, subjects took either a placebo or nothing at all. Experimental trials were performed in a double-blind matter.

It was found that those who took l-theanine had a reduction in heart rate and immunoglobulin A in response to an acute stress relative to the placebo group. The study suggested that oral intake of l-theanine could cause anti-stress effects via inhibition of cortical neuron excitation.

The amino acid l-theanine is found in green tea leaves and appears to have some beneficial effect for stress.

Source: Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. l-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. Epub 2006 Aug 22.

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