Effects of a Single Dose of Teacrine, Caffeine, or their Combination on Subjective Feelings, As Well as Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Adults

Abstract

Background: Theacrine is structurally similar to caffeine, and reported to improve mood and cognition in human subjects. The purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of theacrine on subjective mood, cognitive performance, Heart Rate (HR) and Blood Pressure (BP). Methods: 24 men (aged: 24.3±6.1) and 26 women (aged: 23.4±3.5) ingested a placebo, theacrine (Teacrine®, Compound Solutions, Inc.) at 25mg, at 125mg, caffeine at 150mg, or theacrine at 125mg + caffeine at 150mg on five separate occasions, separated by approximately one week. HR and BP were measured before ingestion and at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours post ingestion. Subjects rated their subjective feelings at the above times, and performed the Trail Making Test (TMT) of cognitive performance at baseline and at hours 2 and 4 post ingestion. Results: Treatment with theacrine had little impact on HR and BP, with only marginal increases noted (~3 bpm; ~3mm Hg). No condition effects were noted for the TMT (p>0.05), with similar scores noted for all conditions. Effects were noted for subjective feelings such as attentive, focus, energy, and motivation to exercise; with the caffeine and theacrine+caffeine generally noted to have the most favorable scores, with theacrine at 25mg and placebo generally noted to have the least favorable scores. Conclusion: These findings indicate that theacrine, when used alone at 125mg or in combination with caffeine, does not result in any significant increase in HR or BP but may improve measures of subjective feelings in healthy men and women.