Green Tea Extract May Boost Memory and Mental Clarity, new study shows

A new study published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods shows that taking a daily supplement of green tea extract may boost mental acuity and help with memory function.

The randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study, funded by the Korean company LG Household & Health Care Ltd, shows that a supplement of green tea extract in combination with L-theanine was associated with improvements in immediate, delayed and general memory function.

Researchers noted: "As a natural ingredient with a long history of consumption, LGNC-07 (a combination of green tea extract and L-theanine ) should be considered as a potential nutraceutical candidate for enhancing cognitive performance."

Green Tea Benefits

Green tea has long been known to have benefits far outstripping normal black tea - green tea has 10 times the amount of polyphenols present in black tea, for example - and its benefits have been reported for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's, certain cancers, imporvements to cardiovascular and oral health, as well as aiding weight management.

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves, is thought to help improve sleep, reduce stress and promote relaxation. As the level found in tea leaves is too low to be effective, a supplement is required rather than gaining enough simply through drinking tea alone.

Details of the Study

The study was based on 91 participants who showed signs of mild cognitive impairment (often a risk factor for Alzheimer's) who were selected to receive either a placebo mix or 1,680mg of the the LGNC-07 green tea with L-theanine, over the course of 16 weeks.

Following a battery of tests designed to show memory and cognitive function, those who received the green tea supplement showed "significant" increases in recall memory, and some "Marginal" improvements in the delay in recognition. EEG scans taken for 24 of the participants showed improvements in specific parts of the brain related to mental alertness.

Conclusions

The researchers concluded: "There is a clear need for further studies to investigate the cognitive improvement effect of LGNC-07. These studies should have increased numbers of study subjects with various degrees of cognitive deficits. In particular, the finding that [a particular] subgroup […] showed a better response to LGNC-07 needs to be carefully considered."

"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,” wrote Suzanne Einöther from Unilever R&D Vlaardingen.