Tea compounds may boost attention span: Unilever

By Stephen Daniells

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Tea Caffeine

Tea compounds may boost attention span: Unilever
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 EFSA turned down Unilever-submitted health claims linking black tea consumption and improved mental focus. The European scientific assessor said in January 2009 that the dossier failed to demonstrate causality.

While no one was available for comment from Unilever prior to publication, global media relations director, Trevor Gorin, told NutraIngredients.com in 2009 following EFSA’s opinion that his company stood by the claims.

The new study supports the association between tea and attention, although it did not report any benefits for alertness. The findings of the randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, cross-over study in the journal Appetite​.

The study, led by Suzanne Einöther from sensation, perception and behaviour at Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, recruited 29 healthy regular tea and/or coffee drinkers to take part in the study. The average age was 30.6, 11 were men, and the body mass index was between 20 and 30 kg/m2.

People were randomized to consume a drink containing L-theanine (Suntheanine, Taiyo) and caffeine mixed with iced tea powder in water, or a placebo (water with iced tea powder) separated by between 6 and 14 days, and subsequently 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 ahead of print, doi:10.1016/j.appet.2010.01.003
“L-theanine and caffeine improve task switching but not intersensory attention or subjective alertness”
Authors: S.J.L. Einother, V.E.G. Martens, J.A. Rycroft, E.A. De Bruin

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Go Beyond the Ordinary: Cognitive Health-BacoMind

Go Beyond the Ordinary: Cognitive Health-BacoMind

Content provided by Natural Remedies Private Limited | 27-Feb-2024 | White Paper

Experience the potency of BacoMind®, the #1 branded bacopa with 9 key bioactives for unparalleled cognitive support.

Nootropics Report 2.0: Brain Health Insights

Nootropics Report 2.0: Brain Health Insights

Content provided by dsm-firmenich | 22-Feb-2024 | Insight Guide

The brain health market is constantly growing and evolving, with more consumers looking for innovative ways to support total mind and body wellness.

Krill oil supports six key areas of healthy aging

Krill oil supports six key areas of healthy aging

Content provided by Aker BioMarine | 14-Feb-2024 | White Paper

The global population is getting older—according to WHO by 2050 the world’s population over 60 years will double and the population above 80 years will...

Consumers' growing demand for Omegas

Consumers' growing demand for Omegas

Content provided by Fruit d'Or | 13-Feb-2024 | White Paper

Consumers are increasingly interested in the benefits of omegas supplements. According to forecasts for 2023–2030, the global omega-3 market is expected...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars