Theacrine

Theacrine: the long-acting counterpart to caffeine

Theacrine is a compound that has a similar chemical structure to caffeine and is known for its strong stimulating effect. It is an alkaloid molecule - which simply means that it is a natural substance derived from plant extracts. In its natural form, theacrine is typically found in a traditional Chinese tea known as camilla assamica or kucha (1). However, it is the other unique performance-enhancing properties of theacrine that could make this compound the next superstar of the supplement industry. Theacrine has been added to some pre-workout supplements and fat burners since 2014.

Theacrine is similar to caffeine, but these two compounds are definitely not the same.

We expect to see theacrine (and trademarked compounds like TeaCor and TeaCrine) in many products in the future, so we did some research. The gist is that this compound is very promising in terms of its ability to make you feel good, last a long time and boost your workout performance, however there is little research done on humans so far. The majority of the available studies have been conducted on rats, concluding that this compound appears to be safe and harmless, and in most cases it has been studied in the form of tea rather than supplements.

Benefits of Theacrine

Stimulant and tea lovers will love this ingredient:

Energy without the habit-forming effect

As many users of coffee, tea, pre-workout products and stimulants can attest, caffeine loses a significant amount of its effect over time. In fact, studies suggest that our bodies can begin to build up a tolerance to the effects of caffeine after just four days (3)! However, a recent study published in the journal Pharmalogical Reports found that even after 7 days of Theacrine supplementation, subjects showed no signs of habituation. Simply put, Theacrine users can experience the same high level of potency at nearly every dose without any diminishing effects over time (3).

Mood-improving effects

In our brain, there are a number of chemicals known as neurotransmitters that allow us to transmit signals from one neuron to another. In the brain, dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter responsible for controlling the reward centers in the brain that make us feel good after an intense exercise session, for example. Studies indicate that a single dose of theacrine has the ability to increase dopamine levels in the brain (2). In addition to this, further analysis has shown that after seven days of Theacrine supplementation, the damaging effects of chronic stress and anxiety on the body are significantly reduced (1).

Improved liver function and detoxification mechanisms

Oxidation is a naturally occurring process in the human body, but too much oxidative stress has been linked to a whole host of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. To combat these potential negative effects of excessive oxidation, our bodies are equipped with some potent antioxidant defense mechanisms, including the body's most powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent called glutathione. Glutathione is produced in the liver along with several other antioxidant enzymes. Studies have shown that subjects had increased glutathione levels within cells after seven days of theacrine supplementation, suggesting that the liver may benefit from such supplementation (1).

Reduction of inflammation

In addition to its role as a marker of disease in the body, chronic inflammation can also cause permanent degenerative damage to joints and connective tissue. According to a study published in the journal Fitoterapia, theacrine supplementation appears to have the ability to significantly reduce inflammation (4). Reducing inflammation not only helps the body recover faster after intense workouts, but also helps keep cortisol levels in check after exercise, allowing you to get back to training faster.

The TeaCrine patent

Compound Solutions, the company behind the popular CarnoSyn Beta Alanine, has an exclusive worldwide license to distribute TeaCrine™. They claim that this product is the best nature-identical source of theacrine (6)

Theacrine dosage

At the time of writing, Theacrine was not yet available as a standalone supplement, as Compound Solutions only marketed this ingredient for use in other supplements. Theacrine has the ability to increase dopamine levels in the brain (2). From all the information we have on theacrine, 25 mg seems to be a safe and conservative starting dose, but this is pure speculation. Until more is known about this, you should rely on the dosage information on the label of your product to be on the safe side.

What dosages were used in rat studies?

Compared to the figures above, relatively high doses were used in rat studies, equivalent to 320 mg or more in humans. This seems very high to us and exceeds anything we have seen in supplements many times over.

Are there any known side effects?

Although there are no official reports of side effects, the toxicity appears to be similar to that of caffeine (8). We suspect that the side effects of excessive doses of theacrine are similar to those of caffeine - nervousness, restlessness, tremors, etc. - but we cannot be sure of this at this stage. The rat studies showed a very high LD50 dose (the dose that was lethal in 50% of the test animals), which was about 810 mg per kilogram of body weight (4). We do not recommend using the LD50 data to determine a dose for any active substance, nor do we recommend converting this amount to an equivalent human dose. We merely wish to emphasize that the toxic threshold appears to be very high, similar to that of caffeine.

Conclusion

Theacrine is a unique supplement with interesting performance-enhancing properties that go well beyond the effects of caffeine. Its ability to reduce factors that inhibit recovery, combined with the fact that continued use does not result in desensitization or a decline in performance, make Theacrine a superior option for hard-training athletes looking for a supplement that will allow them to optimize their performance.

References

1. Li WX, et al; Theacrine, a purine alkaloid obtained from Camellia assamica var. kucha, attenuates restraint stress-provoked liver damage in mice. J Agric Food Chem; 2013
2. Feduccia A, et al; Locomotor activation by theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine: involvement of adenosine and dopamine receptors; Pharmacol Biochem Behav; 2012
3. Ball KT, Poplawsky A. Low-dose oral caffeine induces a specific form of behavioral sensitization in rats. Pharmacol Rep. 2011 Nov;63(6):1560-3. PubMed PMID: 22358105.
4. Wang Y, et al. Theacrine, a purine alkaloid with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Fitoterapia. (2010)
5. Oven, M; Purus Labs® Secures Deal to Introduce Patent-Pending TeaCrine™ to the World With New Thermogenic TheaTrim™; PRWeb; Aug 2014
6. Compound Solutions Announces Exclusive Distribution License with Ground-Breaking Compound, TeaCrine
7. Chuang-xing, Y; New Discovery of Pattern of Purine Alkaloids in Wild Tea Trees; School of Life Sciences,Sun Yat-sen University; 2003
8. Kihlman, B; 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid-a chromosome-damaging agent occurring as a natural metabolite in certain caffeine-producing plants; Mutat Res; 1977