New Study: Tea Compounds (L-theanine and Caffeine) May Boost Attention Span
The Natural Phytochemicals From Black Tea Are Reported Beneficial For Supporting
Cognitive and Mental Function
The tea compounds L-theanine and caffeine at levels obtained in
a single cup of tea may improve attention, says a new study from
Unilever.
A combination of 97 milligrams of L-theanine and 40 milligrams
of caffeine was associated with improvements in attention,
Publication of the study comes a year after Unilever-submitted health
claims linking black tea and improved mental focus.
The new study further supports the association between tea and
attention, although it did not report any benefits for alertness.
The study conducted by at Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, recruited 29
healthy regular tea and/or coffee drinkers to take part in the study.
The average age was 30 years old.
People were randomized to consume a drink containing L-theanine
and caffeine mixed with iced tea powder in water, or a placebo
(water with iced tea powder) separated by between 6 and 14 days.
The subjects each completed a cognitive test at baseline, and then
10 and 60 minutes after drinking.
"This study provided further evidence that the L-theanine/caffeine
combination improves attention on the switch task," wrote the
researchers. "The improvement in accuracy in combination with
unaltered response speed is in line with previous studies.
"Tentative evidence was [also] found that the effect of the
L-theanine/caffeine combination on attention is not specific to
the visual modality, as we found faster responses in both the
visual and auditory modality on the intersensory task after the
combination as compared to placebo," they added.
"Taken together with the previous studies, we conclude that a high
dose of L-theanine combined with caffeine, at the level of a single
cup of tea, can help to improve attention," they concluded.
Source: Appetite (Published online)
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