Effects of L-theanine on Reducing Anxiety in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment at Suphanburi province

Authors

  • Nipapan Sangmanee School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Phakkarawat Sittiprapaporn School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Nuttapon Pengsuwankasem School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Warongporn Rattanabun School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Araya Sarikaphuti School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Karnt Wongsuphasawat School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Thamthiwat Nararatwanchai School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Wongdyan Pandii School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Azizuddin Khan Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Keywords:

L-theanine, Anxiety, Anti-anxiety effect, Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

           This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aimed to determine the effect of L-theanine on anxiety symptoms in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were enrolled in the study. Randomly, 200 mg of L-theanine or a placebo was given to each participant. Before and 60 minutes after the intervention, the anxiety state was measured using the Stress-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-state. To assess the effects of anxiety, physiological indicators such as blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded before and an hour after the experiment. Descriptive data were analyzed using frequencies, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Wilcoxon signed rank was applied to evaluate the parameters within groups to compare pre- and post-intervention, and the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to evaluate the mean difference between groups.

          The results showed a significant decrease in STAI scores following the single dose of 200 mg of L-theanine administration (p=0.023). Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower following L-theanine administration (p=0.021), while diastolic blood pressure and heart rate did not significantly change. Our collective findings suggest that L-theanine could be a potential neutraceutical alternative for managing anxiety in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), emphasizing its therapeutic potential and potential benefits for cognitive well-being and overall quality of life in this population.

References

สถาบันวิจัยประชากรและสังคม มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล มูลนิธิสถาบันวิจัยและพัฒนาผู้สูงอายุไทย. (2564).

สถานการณ์ผู้สูงอายุไทย. บริษัท อมรินทร์พริ้นติ้ง แอนด์พับลิชชิ่ง จํากัด.

Adhikary, R., & Mandal, V. (2017). L-theanine: A potential multifaceted natural bioactive amide as health supplement. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 7(9), 842-848.

Camfield, D. A., Stough, C., Farrimond, J., & Scholey, A. B. (2014). Acute effects of tea constituents L-theanine, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition reviews, 72(8), 507-522.

Cooper, R. (2012). Green tea and theanine: health benefits. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 63(suppl1), 90-97.

Darragh, M., Yow, B., Kieser, A., Booth, R. J., Kydd, R. R., & Consedine, N. S. (2016). A take-home placebo treatment can reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in a non-patient population. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 50(9), 858–865.

Gauthier, S., Reisberg, B., Zaudig, M., Petersen, R. C., Ritchie, K., Broich, K., Belleville, S., Brodaty, H., Bennett, D., Chertkow, H., Cummings, J. L., de Leon, M., Feldman, H., Ganguli, M., Hampel, H., Scheltens, P., Tierney, M. C., Whitehouse, P., & Winblad, B. (2006). Mild cognitive impairment. The lancet, 367(9518), 1262-1270.

Gulpers, B., Ramakers, I., Hamel, R., Köhler, S., Voshaar, R. O., & Verhey, F. (2016). Anxiety as a predictor for cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(10), 823-842.

Hidese, S., Ota, M., Wakabayashi, C., Noda, T., Ozawa, H., Okubo, T., & Kunugi, H. (2017). Effects of chronic l-theanine administration in patients with major depressive disorder: an open-label study. Acta neuropsychiatrica, 29(2), 72-79.

Hidese, S., Ogawa, S., Ota, M., Ishida, I., Yasukawa, Z., Ozeki, M., & Kunugi, H. (2019). Effects of L-theanine administration on stress-related symptoms and cognitive functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 11(10), 2362.

Kakuda, T. (2011). Neuroprotective effects of theanine and its preventive effects on cognitive

dysfunction. Pharmacological research, 64(2), 162-168.

Kardashev, A., Ratner, Y., & Ritsner, M. S. (2018). Add-on pregnenolone with L-theanine to antipsychotic therapy relieves negative and anxiety symptoms of schizophrenia: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clinical schizophrenia & related psychoses, 12(1), 31-41.

Martin, E., & Velayudhan, L. (2020). Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: a literature review. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 49(2), 146-155.

Murman D. L. (2015). The Impact of Age on Cognition. Seminars in hearing, 36(3), 111–121.

Petersen, R. C. (2004). Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. Journal of internal

medicine, 256(3), 183-194.

Regan, B., & Varanelli, L. (2013). Adjustment, depression, and anxiety in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia: a systematic review of psychological intervention studies. International psychogeriatrics, 25(12), 1963-1984.

Sakamoto, F. L., Ribeiro, R. M. P., Bueno, A. A., & Santos, H. O. (2019). Psychotropic effects of L-theanine and its clinical properties: From the management of anxiety and stress to a potential use in schizophrenia. Pharmacological research, 147, 104395.

Sarris, J., Byrne, G. J., Cribb, L., Oliver, G., Murphy, J., Macdonald, P., Nazareth, S., Karamacoska, D., Galea, S., Short, A., Ee, C., Birling, Y., Menon, R., & Ng, C. H. (2019). L-theanine in the adjunctive treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of psychiatric research, 110, 31-37.

Shen, M., Yang, Y., Wu, Y., Zhang, B., Wu, H., Wang, L., Tang, H., & Chen, J. (2019). L‐theanine ameliorate depressive‐like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model via modulating the monoamine levels in limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal–thalamic‐circuit related brain regions. Phytotherapy Research, 33(2), 412-421.

Suphamongkhon, N. (2004). Anxiety, social support, and coping strategies of university students (Unpublished Thesis Master of Arts). Chulalongkorn University.

Türközü, D., & Şanlier, N. (2017). L-theanine, unique amino acid of tea, and its metabolism, health effects, and safety. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57(8), 1681-1687.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results.

Weber, J., Angerer, P., & Apolinário-Hagen, J. (2022). Physiological reactions to acute stressors and subjective stress during daily life: a systematic review on ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies. PloS one, 17(7), e0271996.

White, D. J., De Klerk, S., Woods, W., Gondalia, S., Noonan, C., & Scholey, A. B. (2016). Anti-stress, behavioural and magnetoencephalography effects of an L-theanine-based nutrient drink: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Nutrients, 8(1), 53.

Williams, J. L., Everett, J. M., D'Cunha, N. M., Sergi, D., Georgousopoulou, E. N., Keegan, R. J., McKune, A. J., Mellor, D. D., Anstice, N., & Naumovski, N. (2020). The effects of green tea amino acid L-theanine consumption on the ability to manage stress and anxiety levels: A systematic review. Plant foods for human nutrition, 75, 12-23.

Yoto, A., Motoki, M., Murao, S., & Yokogoshi, H. (2012). Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. Journal of physiological anthropology, 31(1), 1-9.

Downloads

Published

2024-06-03