Ingredient Review: Theacrine

Posted on August 14, 2023

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Theacrine is a lesser known natural supplement that has been appearing in a range of sports nutrition and wellness products over the past few years.

Often included in pre-workouts as part of a nootropic blend, research indicates safety and potential benefits for energy, focus, concentration and interestingly, LDL cholesterol.

What makes understanding the true benefits of Theacrine is the limited amount of available research, with much of it in combination with caffeine or other supplements, or undertaken with rodents.

What is Theacrine

Theacrine is a purine alkaloid naturally occurring in the leaves of a range of plants, including Camellia Kucha, Camellia sinensis var. puanensis, Ilex vomitoria and Cemllia gymnogyna.

Though Theacrine is structurally similar to caffeine, it is believed to be safe, non-habit forming and does not impact heart rate.  

Theacrine is an adenosine receptor antagonist and offers dopaminergic effects. Often referred to as a “cleaner” form of caffeine, theacrine does not have a stimulatory effect on the central nervous system.

Theacrine is often included in supplements under the brand name “Teacrine”.

What does Theacrine do?

Theacrine has demonstrated positive effects on energy, focus and concentration at a dosage of 200mg, which no additional benefit derived from 400mg.

This study indicated that Theacrine may reduce anxiety and increase willingness to exercise. However, more research is warranted to validate these effects.

Another clinical trial indicated that Theacrine had no effect on muscle strength, power or endurance performance, suggesting no direct ergogenic benefit.

Male amateur footballers were assessed for their response to theacrine when supplemented pre-workout.

The authors conclude that supplementation had no effect on sextuple jump, agility T test, 30m sprint, 40s run test and 12m run test compared to placebo.

Is Theacrine Safe?

Theacrine does not have the stimulatory effects of caffeine, though it is often taken in conjunction with caffeine. Taken alone, theacrine should not negatively impact blood pressure, heart rate or anxiety, as many stimulants do.

What is the Recommended Dosage of Theacrine?

Dosages are typically 200mg to 300mg taken once daily.

How to Take Theacrine?

Theacrine is typically found in some pre-workout sports nutrition supplements. So follow the directions on the label of your chosen pre-workout.