L-theanine: what it is and how much people take

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves. Studies have looked at focus, stress and sleep, with small effects so far. Studies have usually used 100 to 400 milligrams a day. It has generally been well tolerated in trials.

Checked 28 September 2026 · Source: Published review (Frontiers in Nutrition) · Adults only

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How much people take

What studies looked atStudies have looked at focus, stress and sleep, with small effects so far.
Amounts studies used100 to 400 milligrams a day.
Official upper limitNone set

Cautions and interactions

Dose questions

Quick answers

What is L-theanine?
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves.
What has L-theanine been studied for?
Studies have looked at focus, stress and sleep, with small effects so far.
How much L-theanine do studies use?
100 to 400 milligrams a day.
Is L-theanine safe?
It has generally been well tolerated in trials.

Sources

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