Suntheanine Makers Fight Imposters

Suntheanine Makers Fight Imposters

AMES, IowaChemical analysisof various raw materials claiming to be pure L-theanine found a combination ofD- and L- forms in most materials, according to Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D., aresearcher at Iowa State University. We found all of those tested that aremade through chemical synthesis or claiming to be extracted from green teaactually have about 50 percent present as D-theanine, Armstrong said. Theonly material that proved to be pure L-theanine was the Suntheanine brand,produced via biofermentation. The study was supported by Taiyo Kagaku Co. inYokkaichi, Japan, makers of Suntheanine.

According to Edina, Minn.-based Taiyo International, theexclusive U.S. supplier of Suntheanine, the D- and L- forms of theanine may havevery different effects in the body. Chemical synthesis of L-theanine, or itspurported extraction from green tea, is fraught with the problem of forming muchgreater amounts of D-theanine than found in tea, said Scott Smith, vicepresident of Taiyo (www.taiyokagaku.com). We know the biological effects ofour Suntheanine brand L-theanine. Im not sure that the biological effects ofother theanine ingredients are known.