Evidence supporting the use of: L-theanine
For the health condition: Attention Deficit Disorder

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

L-theanine, an amino acid found primarily in green tea, has gained attention as a supplement for supporting symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). The rationale behind its use is mostly scientific, though the evidence is still in early stages and limited in scope. L-theanine is known for its calming effects, which are believed to result from its ability to increase alpha brain wave activity and modulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. These properties theoretically may help with hyperactivity, inattention, or anxiety often observed in ADD/ADHD. Several small-scale studies have investigated L-theanine's effects on attention and hyperactivity in children. For example, a 2011 double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Lyon et al.) involving boys with ADHD found that supplementation with L-theanine improved some measures of sleep quality but did not show significant improvements in core ADHD symptoms. Another small randomized trial (2019, Hidese et al.) indicated that L-theanine in combination with caffeine improved attention and cognitive performance in healthy adults, but the direct relevance to ADD/ADHD populations is limited. Overall, while early research suggests that L-theanine may have a calming and focusing effect, robust clinical evidence supporting its use as a primary treatment for ADD/ADHD is lacking. Most guidelines do not endorse it as a standard therapy, and more large-scale, high-quality studies are needed to determine its efficacy and safety in this context.

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