Caffeine, one of the main components in green tea, can interfere with sleep and block the effect of theanine. Since theanine, the main amino acid in tea leaves, has significant anti-stress effects in animals and humans, we examined the effects of green tea with lowered caffeine content, i.e., low-caffeine green tea (LCGT), on stress and quality of sleep of middle–aged individuals (n = 20, mean age 51.3 ± 6.7 years) in a double-blind crossover design. Standard green tea (SGT) was used as the control. These teas (≥300 mL/day), which were eluted with room temperature water, were consumed over a period of seven days after a single washout term. The level of salivary α-amylase activity (sAA), a stress marker, was significantly lower in participants that consumed LCGT (64.7 U/mL) than in those that consumed SGT (73.9 U/mL). Sleep quality was higher in participants that consumed a larger quantity of LCGT. In addition, a self-diagnostic check for accumulated fatigue was significantly lower in those participants that consumed LCGT than SGT. These results indicate that LCGT intake can reduce stress in middle-aged individuals and improve their quality of sleep. The reduction in caffeine is suggested to be a valid reason for enhancing the anti-stress effect of green tea.

Epidemiological and animal studies have demonstrated that ingestion of green tea enhances healthy life. However, caffeine in green tea can interfere with sleep. In this report, we examined the effect of green tea with lowered caffeine, low-caffeine green tea, on stress and sleep of the elderly. The participants (n = 10, mean age 89.3 ± 4.2 years) drank five cups/day of standard green tea for 1 week. Subsequently, they drank five cups/day of low-caffeine green tea for 2 weeks. Salivary α-amylase activity (sAA) was measured as a stress marker. Sleep stages were measured using a portable electroencephalography (n = 7, 6 female and 1 male). The level of sAA in the morning (sAAm) was significantly lower when the participants drank low-caffeine green tea than standard green tea. While the levels of sAAm were different among individuals, lower sAAm correlated with a higher quality of sleep. In those participants whose sAAm was lowered by the ingestion of low-caffeine green tea, some sleep parameters improved. Daily ingestion of low-caffeine green tea may be a beneficial tool for improving the quality of sleep of the elderly via the suppression of stress, although further research is required to fortify this hypothesis.

Beta-cryptoxanthin (β-CRX, (3R)-β, β-caroten-3-ol) is an oxygenated carotenoid and a potent antioxidant that is abundant in Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu MARC.), which is the most popular fruit in Japan. Since our preliminary data suggested that the ingestion of β-CRX had an anti-stress effect in female participants, the effect was evaluated in another set of female participants. The study design was a double-blind group comparison and participants (n 23) were randomly assigned to β-CRX-rich orange juice or placebo (β-CRX was removed from orange juice) groups. β-CRX or placebo juice (125 mL, after breakfast) were consumed from 1 week prior to pharmacy practice and continued for 5 d into the practice period. Salivary α-amylase activity (sAA), a marker of sympathetic nervous system activity, was significantly higher in the evening than in the morning in the placebo-group during pharmacy practice, but not in the β-CRX-group. This result supports the anti-stress effect of β-CRX. The dose-dependency of β-CRX was observed in male mice that were loaded with stress. These results indicate that the ingestion of β-CRX is helpful to reduce stress.

Beta-cryptoxanthin [ b-CRX, (3R)-b, b-caroten-3-ol] is a provitamin A and a potent antioxidant that is abundant in Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu MARC.), which is the most popular fruit in Japan. The anti-stress eŠect of b-CRX on humans was evaluated inˆfth-year university students during both routine daily life at the university and at pharmacy practice. The study design was a double-blind group comparison and participants (n＝20; female 12, male 8) were randomly assigned to b-CRX-rich orange juice or placebo (b-CRX was removed from orange juice) groups. b-CRX or placebo juice (125 mL, once a day, after breakfast) were consumed from 10 d prior to the pharmacy practice and continued for 10 d into the practice period. To assess participants' anxiety, the state-trait anxiety inventory test was carried out before the pharmacy practice. Salivary a-amylase activity (sAA) was measured as a marker of sympathetic nervous system activity. In the placebo-group, sAA in the evening (post-practice sAA) tended to be higher than sAA in the morning (pre-practice sAA) during both routine daily life at the university and during pharmacy practice. In the b-CRX-group, the increase of post-practice sAA was suppressed in females. These results suggested that b-CRX has an anti-stress eŠect, at least, in females.

Objective: We previously found that green tea catechins (GT-catechin) decrease oxidative damage to DNA and suppress brain dysfunction in aged senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP10). To clarify the effect of GT-catechin on suppression of brain dysfunction, we compare the effect on learning ability among several catechins and examined the essential intake period for prevention of brain dysfunction. Methods: Male SAMP10 mice were allowed free access to water containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 0.06 mg/ml), epigallocatechin (EGC, 0.03 mg/ml), GT-catechin (0.2 mg/ml), or green tea extract (0.66 mg/ml). Learning ability of mice was measured using a step-through passive avoidance task. Results: SAMP10 mice exhibit brain dysfunction with aging. However, learning ability was significantly higher in mice that drank GT-catechin and EGCG than same-aged control mice that drank water. EGCG was an important component, but EGC had no effect on learning ability. The learning ability was significantly improved in mice that ingested EGCG for >5 months, and tended to improve in mice that ingested EGCG for 2 or 3 months. Next, the level of synaptophysin, a marker of presynapse, tended to be higher in mice that ingested EGCG but not in mice that ingested EGC. The levels of synaptophysin were significantly higher in mice ingested GT-catechin and green tea extract than control mice. Conclusion: The intake of EGCG, the major catechin in green tea, but not EGC, suppressed age-related brain dysfunction. The effective intake period of EGCG was > 5 months for suppression of brain dysfunction.