Green Tea Boosts Memory

Green Tea Extract Demonstrates Memory Boosting Activity According To New Study Naturally-Rich Source of Beneficial Antioxidants, Polyphenols and Phytochemicals, Green Tea Extracts Are Now Recognized For Support of Cognitive and Mental Function Daily supplements of a green tea extract may boost mental alertness and enhance memory, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from Korea. A combination of a green tea extract with L-theanine was associated with improvements in immediate and delayed recall, and general memory, according to findings published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods. "As a natural ingredient with a long history of consumption, should be considered as a potential nutraceutical candidate for enhancing cognitive performance," wrote researchers from Korea. The study was funded by LG Household & Health Care, Ltd., which also produced the ingredient used in the study, and provided one of the co-authors for the paper. Green Tea Nutritional Science The majority of science on tea has looked at green tea, with benefits reported for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and certain cancers, improving cardiovascular and oral health, as well as aiding in weight management. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea, with polyphenol content between green and black tea. The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tea leaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin. L-theanine, an amino acid naturally present in tea leaves, is thought to help reduce stress, promote relaxation and improve the quality of sleep. L-theanine is found in tea leaves in relatively low concentrations (less than 2 percent), which means that effective dosage levels (of 100 - 200mg/day) cannot be supplied from only drinking tea. Study Details Ninety-one participants with mild cognitive impairment, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either 1,680 mg of the green tea extract-L-theanine combination (LGNC-07) or placebo (maltodextrin plus lactose) for 16 weeks. Several tests were used to assess memory and attention. Results showed that volunteers receiving the green tea supplement exhibited improvements in memory: Marginal improvements were observed with regards to the delay in recognition, and significant increases in memory regarding recall of word reading. Electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded in 24 volunteers, and these scans showed improvements in indicators of mental alertness in specific parts of the brain. The cognitive mental benefits of green tea and the L-theanine it contains have been the subject of interest and research by numerous companies.Unilever scientists reported results of a randomized trial in the journal Appetite that tea (and L-theanine) may boost attention, although it did not report any benefits for alertness (Vol. 54, April 2010, pp. 406-409). "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 researchers from Unilever R&D Vlaardingen. Source: Journal of Medicinal Food Volume 14, Issue 4, Pages 334-343 "A Combination of Green Tea Extract and l-Theanine Improves Memory and Attention in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study" Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.