If you’re a parent who’s been to the grocery store recently, you’ve likely noticed the proliferation of supplements being marketed to children. Or rather, sell directly to parents who want their kids to be calmer, more focused, more attentive, and, well, straighter. Easier all around. Many of these products have catchy names like ‘Chillax’, ‘Kids Feel Calm’, ‘Kids, Cool, Calm & Collected’ or even ‘Relax-a-Saurus’. These supplements contain a wide variety of ingredients, from magnesium, lemon balm and chamomile extracts to his GABA and passionflower, but by the fact that they all feature something called L-theanine. unified.
But what exactly is L-theanine and is it actually safe for children?
Many of these brands claim their specific supplements have the power to reduce stress and increase focus and alertness. The claims appear to (if not explicitly) refer to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other attention, concentration, or behavioral challenges. parents may be faced with.Spending time on social media reveals that many people tick tock Instagram influencers are also promoting the use of products containing L-theanine. On these platforms, L-theanine is sometimes referred to as a “bedtime vitamin,” further contributing to the message that these products are safe.
However, parents say they need to be very careful Dr. Cora Bruner, is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. It is unknown at this time if they work, if they are safe, and what her appropriate dose of L-theanine is for her child. “People assume it’s completely safe because it’s natural, and it’s not,” says Bruner.
What is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is a type of amino acid. Naturally found in green tea and some mushrooms. Bruner cautioned that information about the safety and efficacy of L-theanine as a treatment for ADHD and anxiety is currently lacking. “Does it work? And what dosage? There’s not a lot of data,” she says. A pediatric study examined the potential of L-theanine supplements to improve sleep quality. children with ADHD, but it was concluded that the study was small and that a larger study is needed. The other looked to see if it was a specific combination of: L-theanine and caffeine It found potential efficacy in improving concentration in children with ADHD, but again, as Breiner stresses, what doses are safe and whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks. It is too early to say exactly how. She’s especially wary of the fact that L-theanine is often combined with caffeine, which is known to stunt growth in children.
Is it okay for my child to take L-theanine?
It may turn out to be safe in the end, but there is nothing that proves it to be safe at this point. L-theanine is still poorly studied, and few studies have been done in children. Certainly not enough for pediatricians to confidently recommend a specific dose, Bruner said. She’s also concerned about the fact that the FDA doesn’t regulate the supplement industry in the same way it regulates the pharmaceutical industry, she says. Rather, supplements are considered a subcategory of food. This means that supplements have not been rigorously tested, and studies have found that supplements often do not contain exactly what they claim to be.
Therefore, even if a pediatrician knew a safe dose of L-theanine for a child (and currently does not), parents would still be concerned about L-theanine products they saw on the grocery store shelf or purchased online. , may not always be relied upon to contain the stated dosages. . The L-theanine content may be much less or, more worryingly, much more than advertised. actual, Research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association In April of this year, we took a look at a number of currently available melatonin supplements and compared the amount labeled per gummy to the actual amount in each gummy. “What they found was that some of them had 150 percent more he had than they should have,” says Breiner. “Buyers beware, they have no idea what they are giving to their children.”
Is there a safe dose of L-theanine for children with ADHD?
If you suspect your child has ADHD or is struggling with behavioral problems at school, contact your child’s health care provider rather than reaching for supplements containing or related to L-theanine. Brunner recommends doing so. There is not yet enough evidence regarding the safety or efficacy of L-theanine for pediatricians to recommend a specific dose that is absolutely safe. In her own practice, Breuner encourages her family to seek evidence-based support for behavioral problems. She often suggests how families can learn the tools from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because there is good evidence of efficacy and the safety of this type of behavioral tool.
“If someone comes to me and asks for help in calming a child down, I want to say, ‘What else have you tried? ‘ There are studies on warm milk.” There is research on chamomile. exercise or sleep. There are so many studies out there, including placebo-controlled studies, based on studies of those kinds of behaviors that don’t just look at supplements,” says Bruner.
Conclusion: What Parents Need to Know About ‘Gentle’ ADHD Supplements for Kids
Parents should be very careful when purchasing supplements for their children, and even for themselves. Because the FDA regulates supplements as foods, not drugs, manufacturers can bring anything they deem safe to the market without undergoing the rigorous scrutiny of pharmaceuticals. even the FDA’s own Supplement Statement “Many dietary supplements contain ingredients with strong biological effects that may compete with medications you are taking or medical conditions you may have,” cautions caution.
Dr. Bruner recommends that parents be vigilant and always consult with a pediatrician or health care provider before purchasing L-theanine supplements or other supplements for their children. “I am not saying that everything is bad in this matter or that parents are doing bad things to their children. Please note that what is listed may not have been included and may not have been studied for your child’s age or size,” Bruner said. increase.
Cited studies:
Cohen, P., (2023) Melatonin and CBD content in melatonin gummies sold in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association.
Lyon, M., Kapoor, M., (2011) Effect of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized, double-blind study. , a placebo-controlled clinical trial. alternative medicine reviews.
Kahathuduwa C., Wakefield S., West, B., Blume, J., Mastergeorge, A., (2019) L-theanine and caffeine improve sustained attention, Improves impulsivity, cognition by reducing mind wandering. Current developments in nutrition.
Expert:
Dr. Cora Collette C. BrunerMD, MPH, member of the Adolescent Medicine and Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Divisions at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
