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Effect of l-theanine on glutamatergic function in patients with schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2015

Miho Ota ,
Chisato Wakabayashi ,
Noriko Sato ,
Hiroaki Hori ,
Kotaro Hattori ,
Toshiya Teraishi ,
Hayato Ozawa ,
Tsutomu Okubo  and
Hiroshi Kunugi
Miho Ota*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Chisato Wakabayashi
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Noriko Sato
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Hiroaki Hori
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Kotaro Hattori
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Toshiya Teraishi
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Hayato Ozawa
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Development, Nutrition Division, Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd, Mie, Japan
Tsutomu Okubo
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Development, Nutrition Division, Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd, Mie, Japan
Hiroshi Kunugi
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
*
Dr. Miho Ota, Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan. Tel: +81 42 341 2712; Fax: +81 42 346 2094; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives

Glutamatergic dysfunction in the brain has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Previous studies suggested that l-theanine affects the glutamatergic neurotransmission and ameliorates symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The aims of the present study were twofold: to examine the possible effects of l-theanine on symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients and to evaluate the changes in chemical mediators, including glutamate + glutamine (Glx), in the brain by using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Method

The subjects were 17 patients with schizophrenia and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. l-Theanine (250 mg/day) was added to the patients’ ongoing antipsychotic treatment for 8 weeks. The outcome measures were the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores and MRS results.

Results

There were significant improvements in the PANSS positive scale and sleep quality after the l-theanine treatment. As for MRS, we found no significant differences in Glx levels before and after the 8 week l-theanine treatment. However, significant correlations were observed between baseline density of Glx and change in Glx density by l-theanine.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that l-theanine is effective in ameliorating positive symptoms and sleep quality in schizophrenia. The MRS findings suggest that l-theanine stabilises the glutamatergic concentration in the brain, which is a possible mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect.

Keywords

glutamine+glutamatel-theanine (N-ethyl-l-glutamine)magnetic resonance spectroscopyschizophrenia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 27 , Supplement 5 , October 2015 , pp. 291 - 296
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Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2015 

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