TeaCrine®

TeaCrine® is the only patented, clinically-tested, widely-adopted form of nootropic compound theacrine.

TeaCrine is a brand of theacrine, a compound with caffeine-like effects used to increase energy and mental & physical performance. This TeaCrine review details its advantages over plain theacrine supplements:

• Patented. The formulation and use of TeaCrine in supplements is protected by patents.
• Clinically Researched. TeaCrine is the only brand of theacrine backed by clinical research studies, which demonstrate its energy and performance-boosting benefits.
• Trusted. TeaCrine is currently used in over 200 nootropic, energy, and sports nutrition supplements.

Overview

Made by American supplement company Compound Solutions, TeaCrine is a patented form of theacrine, an alkaloid compound similar to caffeine. Theacrine is found in several plants, including some coffee species, Cupuacu (closely related to cocoa), and kucha tea (Camellia assamica var. kucha).

Much like caffeine, theacrine possesses stimulating effects that improve feelings of energy, reduce fatigue, and enhance mood and cognition, which have made it a popular nootropic and sports performance-enhancing supplement.

At the same time, theacrine has several unique properties which make it an attractive alternative to caffeine:

• Longer duration of effects
• Lack of tolerance build-up
• Lack of side effects such as anxiety and increased heart rate

TeaCrine is the only patented, research-backed form of theacrine available, with several human studies demonstrating its efficacy and safety.

How does TeaCrine work?

TeaCrine works similarly to caffeine by blocking the receptors of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired and sleepy.

In addition to this, it also increase the levels of dopamine – the “feel good” neurotransmitter associated with mood, attention, motivation, and other aspects of cognitive function.

TeaCrine Nutritional Supplement Uses

TeaCrine is the most popular form of theacrine on the supplements market, with over 200 nootropic, sports nutrition, and energy products now incorporating it as an ingredient.

Energy Supplements

Similar to caffeine, theacrine’s main effect is the reduction of fatigue & sleepiness and an increase in feelings of energy. Because of this, TeaCrine is frequently sold as a standalone energy supplement, and as an ingredient in complex formulas and energy drinks.

Read more: Energy supplements

Nootropic Supplements

Theacrine is widely used as a standalone nootropic and in multi-ingredient nootropic formulas. Indeed, clinical research suggests that theacrine has a wide range of nootropic effects. Aside from the aforementioned increase in energy and decrease in fatigue, it has also been shown to:

• Enhance concentration & focus
• Increase motivation, and particularly willingness to exercise
• Reduce anxiety

In addition, early animal research suggests that it may also be capable of reducing stress.

Read more: Theacrine as a nootropic

Pre-Workout Supplements

TeaCrine is quickly growing in popularity as an ergogenic aid, particularly as a replacement for caffeine in pre-workout formulas. This is largely due to the fact that it does not cause the unwanted jittery side effects of caffeine, such as anxiety, dehydration, nervousness, headaches, and heart palpitations.

Furthermore, another major problem with caffeine is that it loses its effects if taken too frequently. Theacrine does not have this issue, and has been shown to not produce any tolerance even after 8 weeks of daily 300 mg dosages. Finally, it does not cause the fatiguing crash that some people experience after caffeine use.

Read more: Caffeine as a pre-workout

TeaCrine Research

Human Research

Human studies have only begun to explore the benefits of TeaCrine. So far, findings suggest that it improves energy levels, reduces fatigue, enhances focus & concentration, and may have other cognitive benefits such as enhanced mood.

TeaCrine (200 mg) may improve energy levels and various measures of mental performance

This randomized, double-blinded, crossover study evaluated the cognitive effects of TeaCrine (TC). A total of 15 participants were given a single dose of placebo or 200 mg TC and had their physical and mental performance evaluated. They then switched groups so that all 15 people tried both treatments. In part 2 of the study, another 6 participants took 100, 200, and 400 mg of TC daily for 7 days.

In the first part of the study, Teacrine led to significant increases in self-reported energy levels and a reduction of fatigue. In the second part, the 200 mg dose led to improvements of self-reported energy, fatigue, concentration, anxiety, motivation to exercise, and libido.

• The researchers concluded that “These preliminary data support the benefits of acute TeaCrine^™ supplementation on subjective “energy” levels and some indices of mental performance.” ³

This two-part study evaluated the effects of TeaCrine (TC). In part 1, 9 people took 200 or 400 mg TC daily for a week. In the part 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover investigation, 15 people took a single dose of placebo or TC (200 mg).

In the first part, the 200 mg dose improved energy, focus, and concentration, without any additional effectiveness at the 400 mg dose. In addition, only the 200 mg dose improved self-reported willingness to exercise, anxiety, motivation to train, and libido. In part 2, the single dose of 200 mg TC similarly improved energy, fatigue, and concentration.

• The researchers concluded that “Energy, focus, and concentration increased from baseline values in both doses…After consuming a single 200 mg dose, significant group × time interaction effects were seen for energy, fatigue, and concentration.” ⁴

In addition to the above research, there was a recent unpublished study in soccer players which reported that TeaCrine may be capable of enhancing exercise endurance and reaction time, especially when combined with caffeine. ⁵

TeaCrine Dosage

• Successful clinical studies have used 200 mg doses
• Standalone supplements come in 100 mg capsules taken 1-2 at a time
• Multi-ingredient complexes typically provide 125 mg dosages