Supplement
Theacrine is a plant compound related to caffeine, found in a bitter Chinese tea called kucha, and it appears to act on the brain's energy and alertness pathways. People mostly look at it for energy and fatigue, and trials found a moderate rise in perceived energy and a moderate drop in tiredness, though the evidence is only limited. Most studies were fairly small, and it did not change blood pressure or heart rate the way caffeine does.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 7
- Outcomes
- 7
- Graded outcomes
- 0241
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Safety
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemodynamic Effects No effect - does not alter blood pressure or heart rate unlike caffeine | NoneNo effect | 90 people |
Tolerance
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habituation No evidence of tachyphylactic/habituation response over 8 weeks | NoneNo effect | 60 people |
Energy Levels
- Subjective Energy: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective Energy Moderate increase in perceived energy (200mg dose most effective) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 120 people |
Fatigue
- Fatigue Reduction: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue Reduction Moderate reduction in fatigue (visual analogue scales) | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 100 people |
Cognitive Function
- Cognitive Performance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Performance Improved cognition when combined with caffeine (150mg each) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 90 people |
Mood Improvement
- Mood/Focus: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood/Focus Favorable impact on energy and mood perceptions vs caffeine alone | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people |
Exercise Performance
- Exercise Motivation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Motivation Moderate effect on motivation to exercise (small study) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 6 people |
Key findings
- Hemodynamic Effects
- Habituation
- Subjective EnergyImproves (the measure goes up)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Theacrine products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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