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June 9, 2008 Update #76N |
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IS THEANINE A BRAIN CELL PROTECTIVE AGENT?
Background
Increased oxidative stress levels in the brain have been associated
with a variety of brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease,
senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and even brain cancer.
A growing number of experiments suggest that the polyphenols in tea, especially green tea
EGCG, reduces oxidative stress throughout the body. The following study is not about
polyphenols but about the bioactive amino acid theanine (L-theanine).
Note: Cx = cerebral cortex. In humans, the Cx is the part of the
brain most closely associated with consciousness, memory, reasoning and thinking.
Featured Research Study
Altered levels of oxidation and phospholipase C isozyme expression in the brains of theanine-administered rats.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 May;31(5):857-60. Nishida K, et.al.
Click Here for PubMed Abstract of Study
Study Highlights
This study in rats found that the Cx of theanine-treated animals
had a 20% reduction in oxidation levels compared to untreated animals. The study
concluded that "theanine is a safe compound and its repeated oral administration
reduces oxidation levels in the brain, especially the Cx..."
Comments
Could it be that both tea polyphenols and tea theanine work in
the brain to reduce oxidative stress? The above study, in conjunction with previous
studies, suggests that possibility.
Ask your tea professional to guide you toward enjoyable tea options.
Ask your health professional to guide you toward viable health options.
Dr. Paul's Tea & Health Update, WWW.DRPAULSUPDATES.ORG, supports tea and health educational programs by bringing recent research studies into public awareness.
Copyright © 2008 Dr. Paul's School of Tea and Health, LLC. All rights reserved.
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