Is L-theanine safe during breastfeeding?

Understanding L-Theanine and Its Safety During Breastfeeding
L-theanine, an amino acid primarily found in green tea, is often praised for its potential benefits, including anxiety and stress relief and promoting relaxation without sedative effects. However, when it comes to breastfeeding, the safety of L-theanine remains a topic of concern among healthcare professionals and nursing mothers alike.
Limited Research and Caution Advised
The consensus among experts is that there is insufficient scientific evidence to definitively determine the safety of L-theanine during breastfeeding. While some sources suggest that L-theanine is generally recognized as safe when used as directed, they also caution that pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should avoid its use due to the lack of comprehensive studies on its effects in these populations.
One source highlights that while L-theanine is considered to have mild side effects, the limited research available for pregnant and breastfeeding women necessitates a cautious approach. This sentiment is echoed by other experts who recommend that nursing mothers should likely refrain from using L-theanine supplements.
Potential Risks and Considerations
The primary concern regarding L-theanine during breastfeeding is the absence of conclusive data on how it may affect infants. Although L-theanine itself is not known to cause significant side effects, the potential for it to interact with other substances, such as caffeine, raises additional questions. Caffeine, which can be present in green tea (a common source of L-theanine), is known to pass into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant’s development.
Moreover, anecdotal evidence from forums suggests that some mothers feel hesitant to discuss supplement use with their healthcare providers, indicating a broader uncertainty in the community about the implications of taking L-theanine while breastfeeding.
Conclusion: A Cautious Approach
In summary, while L-theanine is generally regarded as safe for the general population, its use during breastfeeding is not well-studied, leading to recommendations for caution. Nursing mothers are advised to consult with healthcare professionals before considering L-theanine supplements, ensuring that both their health and that of their infant are prioritized. As always, when it comes to supplements and medications during breastfeeding, consultation with a healthcare provider is essential to navigate the complexities of safety and efficacy.

Who should not use L-theanine?

The side effects of L-theanine are usually mild and uncommon. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be cautious when taking L-theanine, due to the limited research available for these groups.

Is GABA or L-theanine better for anxiety?

Efficacy: Taking L-theanine for anxiety might be beneficial over GABA because L-theanine can promote relaxation without causing the drowsiness that GABA supplements tend to. Safety profile: L-theanine and GABA are both considered generally safe when used as directed.

Can I take ashwagandha while pregnant?

In some individuals, ashwagandha preparations may cause drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting. Although it is rare, there have been a number of cases that link liver injury to ashwagandha supplements. Ashwagandha should be avoided during pregnancy and should not be used while breastfeeding.

What supplements should I avoid while breastfeeding?

Dietary Supplements and Herbs to Avoid When Breastfeeding

• Answer: Certain herbals, high dose vitamins, and other dietary supplements can be dangerous to breastfed babies through breast milk.
• Aloe latex.
• Ashwagandha.
• Berberine/goldenseal.
• Bilberry.
• Black cohosh.
• Butterbur.
• Dong quai.

Why do I feel weird after taking L-theanine?

L-theanine may affect the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These include serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood, sleep, and emotion, and cortisol, which helps the body deal with stress. A change in the balance of these chemicals can change a person’s mood or stress levels.

What effects does L-theanine have on hormones?

After being absorbed into the body, L-theanine can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and regulate the secretion of neurotransmitters of central nervous system cells [13] and levels of hormones such as corticosterone (CORT) and adrenaline (EPI) in the serum.

Is it safe to take L-theanine while pregnant?

Health experts have not yet established the safety of L-theanine for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, people who consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day during pregnancy have a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes.

What are the negative side effects of L-theanine?

Although there are no reported side effects from taking L-theanine, consuming large amounts of green tea can cause nausea, irritability, and GI upset because of the caffeine content. Please see monograph on Green Tea.

Can I take L-theanine when breastfeeding?

It isn’t clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods of time. It might cause mild side effects, such as headache or sleepiness. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if theanine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Is L-theanine hard on your liver?

L- Theanine prevents alcoholic liver injury through enhancing the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes.