Can Matcha tea powder ease depression?
4 Min Read
Many consume Matcha tea powder as a healthy alternative to other beverages, but the natural drink could benefit humans more than we think.
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The owner of a tea house pours a cup of tea in this picture illustration taken April 25, 2020. (Reuters)
A recent study published in Nutrients revealed that Matcha tea powder can help people deal with depression and stress.
Researchers revealed that traditional Japanese tea can boost one's mood and mental performance by activating what is called dopaminergic neural networks and improving depressive symptoms in mice that have previously experienced stress from social isolation.
However, Japan's Kumamoto University revealed that more mechanistic research is required, which is why the study was done on mice. Researchers reveal that further research could help develop better antidepressants.
Researchers point out that depression is the most widespread mental health condition in the world and the number of people diagnosed remains on the rise. Even though its onset varies, researchers suggest that it is triggered by reduced dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone playing an important role in elevating one’s mood.
According to research, antidepressants counter low dopamine, but time has revealed that many have side effects. In addition, people can also develop resistance to antidepressants, requiring higher doses or changes in medication.
How can Matcha tea powder help with depression?
Traditionally used in tea, matcha comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, which are rich in mood-boosting compounds.
According to research, regular matcha consumption has improved anxiety-like behavior in lab mice by activating dopamine function via dopamine D1 receptor signaling.
Matcha and socially isolated mice
Dr. Yuki Kurauchi of Kumamoto University led a team of researchers to investigate the effects of matcha tea powder on depression in socially isolated mice. The team used stress-tolerant BALB/c and stress-susceptible C57BL/6J mice subjected to social isolation stress.
Their research concluded that by orally administering a matcha tea suspension, levels of depression in the stress-susceptible mice were reduced. This was measured by the mice's performance in tail suspension tests, which are used to observe and evaluate depression in mice.
“Matcha tea reduced the immobility time only in stress-susceptible mice that experienced greater stress from social isolation and exhibited higher depression-like behavior, in comparison to the stress-tolerant mice," Kurauchi said in a statement.
Read next: Link between depression, heart disease in women: Russian Health
The analysis, after experimenting on the mice's brains, revealed that the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens were activated in the stress-susceptible mice after they consumed matcha. These brain regions form an important part of the dopaminergic circuit and are important to control dopamine levels in the brain.
Indicated by an increase in the number of cells expressing c-Fos, their activation is an important indicator of neural activity and would boost dopamine levels, uplifting one's mood.
What did experts have to say?
Experts were optimistic about the study, according to Healthline, but pointed out that the effect on mice could be different on humans.
“There is limited information about whether matcha can affect depression in humans and the optimal dose and duration of use of matcha to prevent or treat depression has not been established,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicology physician and medical director at National Capital Poison Center.
A licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in integrative mental health and medically trained in pharmaceuticals, Victoria Chan, told Healthline that matcha has high concentrations of L-theanine, an amino acid that can calm the brain and nervous system. It also reduces the jittery effects of the tea's natural caffeine.
“The scientific community is constantly learning more about why depression develops,” Chan said.
Read next: Study shows depression linked to low serotonin release: The Guardian
On the other hand, a dermatologist and medical officer for AI healthcare platform Welzo, Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, told Healthline that even though matcha's L-theanine and caffeine can combine to improve brain function, we shouldn't get too enthusiastic yet.
“While the study done on mice may provide some insights into the potential antidepressant,” Afzal said, “it’s important to note that the results may not necessarily translate to humans. Mice and humans have different physiologies and there are often significant differences in how drugs and treatments affect the two species.”
Afzal said more effective human studies are necessary.
