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At a glance
- Format suitability
- Reviewed for gummies, powder sticks, oral strips, functional jellies and pet soft chews — confirmed per project.
Why brands use it
Why brands use L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid commonly considered for energy, recovery and cognitive ranges, sitting in the amino acids family. On DAT Supply briefs the positioning is set by the brand brief and reviewed against the target market’s claim rules — we do not pre-position an active for any single benefit. Editorial framing uses only EU 432/2012- or DSHEA-compatible wording — we never promote unauthorised claims, even when the active has consumer-side momentum. Format-wise we have considered L-Theanine for gummies, powder stick, strip, jelly and pet soft chew; the per-format formulation notes below describe the live constraints (taste, payload, stability, packaging) we tune in the formulation pass. Sourcing form (extract ratio for botanicals, salt or chelate form for minerals, free-form vs ester for amino acids) is reviewed against the brief, with documentation matched to the target market’s import rules. Inclusion rate and claim wording are reviewed per project — we don’t publish off-the-shelf doses.
FormulationHow we use L-Theanine in formulas
A public-safe formulation reference — how this active behaves in our
formats, common pairings and handling notes. Final formulation, dose and
on-pack copy are confirmed per project.
- Heat stable
- Limited — use coated forms
- Soluble in matrix
- Conditional
- Vegan supply
- Project-specific
Claim wordingEU-authorised health claims
EU-authorised wording for this ingredient is reviewed per project against Reg. 1924/2006 and the authorised list under Reg. 432/2012. No final claim wording is implied by this page.
As a free-form amino acid L-Theanine is positioned with EU 432/2012-compatible wording where an authorised claim exists; otherwise editorial wording stays neutral and structural, focused on the active’s role in the body rather than a benefit. UK rules track EU wording. For the US market, DSHEA structure-function rules apply with the FDA disclosure. Inclusion rate is reviewed against the target positioning — sports, recovery, sleep or cognitive — and confirmed per project. Where an amino acid stack is on the brief, the per-active balance and the combined per-serving load are reviewed against the chosen format’s payload window.
EU-authorised health claims Authorised at ≥15% NRV per daily serving. Claim wording must appear verbatim on consumer packaging. DAT reviews final pack copy per project against EU 1924/2006 and the authorised list under EU 432/2012.
Serving
Typical serving and reference level
Where the serving level for L-Theanine is set, and who sets it. The
figure that reaches your label is fixed against the specification for your
formula and your market — not read off this page.
- Measured in
- mg
Reference level Typical anchor: mg per serving — confirmed per project.
L-Theanine is measured by weight (mg) per serving on DAT Supply briefs. The working anchor — the inclusion rate against which target-market claim wording is reviewed — is set during the formulation pass for each project rather than published as a fixed number on the public page. Final per-serving load depends on the chosen format (gummy payload window, capsule fill weight, softgel oil load, sachet or powder scoop size, oral-liquid bottle geometry) and the claim wording the brand needs to support against the target market. Sourcing form (extract ratio, standardised marker, micronised vs granular, salt or chelate form) is reviewed in the same pass. Country-level upper limits (France, Italy, Belgium for the EU; California Prop 65 for the US) are checked before any inclusion rate is finalised. Dose is confirmed per project — we don’t publish off-the-shelf dose tables for any active in the catalogue.
Research library
The evidence behind L-Theanine
7 studies relevant to L-Theanine, strongest
evidence first. Peer-reviewed sources and regulatory opinions. Citations only — DAT cites
the science, it does not endorse the publishers. Studies are on the ingredient, not on any
finished product.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed studyModerate evidence
L-Theanine increases alpha-wave activity in the human EEG: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Population
- Healthy adults
- Studied dose
- 50 mg
- Duration
- Single dose
RCT in 16 adults found that 50 mg L-theanine increased alpha-wave activity in the occipital and parietal regions within 30-60 minutes, indicating relaxation without drowsiness.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed studyModerate evidence
The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness
- Population
- Healthy adults
- Studied dose
- 100 mg L-theanine + 50 mg caffeine
- Duration
- Single dose
RCT in 44 adults found that 100 mg L-theanine combined with 50 mg caffeine improved accuracy and speed in attention-switching tasks, and reduced subjective fatigue.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed studyModerate evidence
The effects of L-theanine on stress and cognitive function in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Population
- Healthy adults
- Studied dose
- 200-400 mg/day
- Duration
- 1-8 weeks
Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs found L-theanine significantly reduced stress and anxiety scores compared to placebo, with no effect on cognitive performance.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed study
L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses
- Population
- Healthy adults (n=34)
- Studied dose
- 200 mg
- Duration
- Acute
Randomized controlled trial showing L-theanine reduces stress responses (heart rate, salivary IgA) in a mental arithmetic task.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed study
The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness
- Population
- Healthy young adults (n=44)
- Studied dose
- 97 mg L-theanine + 40 mg caffeine
- Duration
- Acute
Double-blind RCT showing that 97 mg L-theanine + 40 mg caffeine improves attention and alertness compared to placebo or either alone.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed study
The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Population
- Boys with ADHD (n=20)
- Studied dose
- 400 mg/day
- Duration
- 6 weeks
Open-label study showing 400 mg/day L-theanine improved sleep efficiency and reduced nocturnal activity in boys with ADHD.
L-TheaninePeer-reviewed study
The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent
- Population
- Human and animal studies
- Studied dose
- 50-200 mg
- Duration
- Acute
Review of L-theanine's effects on brain waves, neurotransmitters, and cognitive function. Demonstrates increased alpha wave activity and relaxation without sedation.
The formulas above sit in these private-label ranges:
Adjacent actives
Ingredients that sit alongside this one
Start Build a formula around L-Theanine
Explore the private-label options that use L-Theanine — review formula, format and packaging on each product before you commit.
