Theanine supplements with the fewest additives
I've been experimenting with theanine for its possible anti-anxiety and pro-sleep effects. When purchasing supplements like theanine, I try to avoid as many excipients as possible and prefer brands that can provide certificates of analysis. If you'd like to do the same, here's the brands I compared.
Theanine powder suggestions:
I use theanine in powder form. Powder makes it easy to adjust the dosage, and the taste is inoffensive (it reminds me of a mild powdered sugar). I'd suggest any of the following, they all are straight theanine powder with COA's available:
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| BulkSupplements Theanine (Powder) Available on Bulk Supplements | L-theanine. A BulkSupplements certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
| PureBulk Theanine (Powder) Available on PureBulk | L-theanine. A PureBulk certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
Theanine gelatin capsule suggestions:
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| BulkSupplements Theanine (Gelatin Capsules) Available on Bulk Supplements | L-theanine (500mg), gelatin (capsule). A BulkSupplements certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
| PureBulk Theanine (Gelatin Capsules) Available on PureBulk | L-theanine (500mg), gelatin (capsule, bovine source). A PureBulk certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
Theanine veggie capsule suggestions:
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| BulkSupplements Theanine (Veggie Capsules) Available on Bulk Supplements | L-theanine (500mg), cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). A BulkSupplements certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
| PureBulk Theanine (Veggie Capsules) Available on PureBulk | L-theanine (500mg), cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). A PureBulk certificate of analysis is available. The country of origin is China. |
In the UK?
Bulk Powders has a straight theanine powder with a certificate of analysis available.
Other theanine products
The following are other theanine products I compared, sorted alphabetically. I'm not necessarily recommending against most of these, they just generally have unnecessary ingredients or are unlikely to provide certificates of analysis.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Advance Physician Formulas L-Theanine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-theanine, rice flour, gelatin (porcine). |
| Country Life L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B6, Suntheanine l-theanine, cellulose (capsule shell, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), cellulose, magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Doctor's Best Suntheanine L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, microcrystalline cellulose, modified cellulose (vegetarian capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Enzymatic Therapy L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine (Suntheanine brand), cellulose, vegetable capsule (modified cellulose), and magnesium stearate. |
| Jarrow Formulas Theanine 100/200 (Gelatin Capsules) | L-theanine, cellulose, magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silicon dioxide. Capsule consists of gelatin. |
| Life Extension L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine (Suntheanine), Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), ascorbyl palmitate. |
| Natural Factors Stress-Relax L-Theanine (Chewable Tablets) | L-theanine, organic cane sugar, xylitol, stearic acid, silica, natural fruit flavor (banana, pomegranate, pineapple, mango, passion fruit, citric acid, magnesium stearate (vegetable grade). |
| Now Foods L-Theanine (Chewable Tablets) | L-theanine, inositol, taurine (free-form), Xylitol, cellulose, sorbitol, stearic acid (vegetable source), natural flavors, silica, malic acid, betterstevia [organic stevia extract (leaf)], magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and beet powder. |
| Now Foods L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, decaffeinated green tea (Camellia sinensis) (leaf), cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), rice flour, magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silica. |
| NutraBio L-Theanine (Powder) | L-theanine, maltodextrin, gelatin. I suspect NutraBio's product is high-quality, but they are unable to provide me COAs without purchasing. |
| NutraBio L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, vegetable capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| NutraLife L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, vegetarian capsule (hypromellose), cellulose, silica, magnesium stearate. |
| Paradise Herbs Optimized Sun Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine (Sun Theanine), OptiMSM (methylsulfonylmethane), capsule (plant cellulose, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Powder City Theanine (Gelatin Capsules) [now out of business] | L-theanine, maltodextrin, gelatin. A third-party certificate of analysis is available. |
| Powder City Theanine (Powder) [now out of business] | L-theanine. A third-party certificate of analysis is available. |
| Pure Encapsulations L-Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose), vegetarian capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Source Naturals L-Theanine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-theanine, microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin (capsule), colloidal silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate. |
| Thorne Research Theanine (Veggie Capsules) | L-theanine, hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, microcrystalline cellulose, leucine, silicon dioxide. |