A Combination of Green Tea Extract, Rhodiola, Magnesium & B Vitamins Enhance Stress-Coping Abilities

by | May 10, 2022 | 2021, Brain Health, Magnesium, Minerals, Rhodiola, Stress, Vitamin B - General

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Study results show the efficacy of a synergistic approach to combatting states of stress and anxiety, with a significant increase in EEG resting state theta (p < .02), which is associated with relaxation and modulation of anxious states.  

depressed womanAccording to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of people who suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders has significantly increased and is becoming a leading contributor to the global burden of disease 1. Anxiety, or the feeling of intense worry, stress, and fear around everyday life activities, can lead to an increased heart rate, lack of sleep, and difficulty concentrating. Furthermore, depression is a mental health disorder centered on chronic feelings of detachment and persistent negative views, with an increasing lack of interest in life. Previous research on depression has shown that actual morphological changes in brain structure are present in this mental disorder, particularly in areas related to mediating the hippocampus and amygdala, which is the center of the brain responsible for emotions such as anxiety and fear 2. Furthermore, many scientists believe that depression is the result of impaired neuroplasticity and the dysfunctional synaptic transmission, particularly between GABA neurotransmission 3. Currently, treatment of anxiety and depression are focused on the use of antidepressants which can have a positive influence on a patient’s quality of life, but many come with a long list of possible side effects and the potential ability to lose efficacy overtime 4.

Many people have turned to a variety of plant medicines, vitamins, and minerals to try to reduce intense feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. In particular, green tea has been consumed for centuries and has been touted for its polyphenol content, along with L-theanine, an amino acid associated with relaxation and a reduction in cognitive stress 5. Rhodiola is another traditional plant with the potential ability to stimulate neurogenesis, rescue alternations in GABA neurotransmission, and counteract oxidative stress 6. Additionally, B vitamins play a vital role in the maintenance and functioning of the brain, with severe deficiencies being linked to an increased risk of psychological and mood disorders 7. Lastly, magnesium, an enzymatic cofactor in over 600 biochemical reactions, influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates a variety of responses to cope with stress demands 8.

Boyle et al. conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group design study to explore the potential stress-reducing properties of magnesium, B-vitamins, rhodiola, and green tea. 100 participants (men=36; women=64) were recruited based on experiencing moderate subjective stress levels, being between 18 to 50 years of age, with a healthy BMI, and free from any substantial physical or psychiatric disorders. Subjects were divided into treatment groups comprising 4 treatment arms:

Group 1 - CombinedMg + vitamin B 6 , B 9 , B 12 + green tea + rhodiola extract
Group 2 – Green TeaMg + vitamins B 6 , B 9 , B 12 + green tea
Group 3 - RhodiolaMg + vitamins B 6 , B 9 , B 12 + rhodiola extract
Group 4 - PlaceboPlacebo

Treatments were given with water in a single dose containing one tablet and 2 capsules. Of the supplements administered, Mg contained 150 mg of elemental magnesium, vitamin B6 (0.7 mg), B9 (0.1 mg), and B12 (0.00125 mg). The combined green tea/rhodiola extract consisted of green tea (125 mg containing 40% L-theanine [50 mg]) and rhodiola (222 mg). Participants were randomized into six strata to ensure a balanced representation of age and gender, with divisions being (i) 18-30, (ii) 31-40, or (iii) 41-50, with further divide between men and women.

Primary outcomes consisted of changes in oscillatory brain activity measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) during a rested state and during completion of tasks related to attention under stressful conditions. Secondary outcomes were the efficacy of the oral supplementation on subjective stress, mood, anxiety, cortisol levels, blood pressure, heart rate variability, cognitive performance, and attentional related potentials (ERPs). EEG was recorded throughout the trial with a BioSemi ActiveTwo EEG system. Self-reported stress and arousal (stimulation) was assessed using the stress and arousal checklist (SACL), a 30-item adjective checklist. Subject’s mood was measure by The profile of mood states – short form (POMS-SF), a 37-item adjective checklist that measure six mood states: tension-anxiety, depression dejection, anger hostility, viguor-activity, fatigue-inertia, confusion-bewilderment; and by Total Mood Disturbance Score, which is the sum of all subscales minus the score of Viguor-activity.

After completion of the trial, the results are as follows:

  • Significant increase of theta power was noted in the combined treatment group compared to placebo, t(96) = 2.3; p = .02; and was also noted in the rhodiola group, t(96) = 3.44; p = .001, specifically in the eyes open rested state.
  • When viewing changes to stress response, the combined treatment significantly improved response to subjective stress vs. placebo during the recovery period (+115 min; t(90) = -2.11; p = 0.4; and during the ambulatory period (+245 min: t(89) = -1.74; p = .08). Additionally, the combined treatment significantly attenuated stress vs. the rhodiola group across the response profile: +65 min: t(90) = -2.01; p = .05; +100 min: t(90) = -2.47; p = .02; +115min: t(90) = -2.12; p = .04; +245 min: t(89) = -2.23; p = .03; +365 min: t(88) = -2.25; p = .03; and +485 min: t(87) = -2.23; p = .03.
  • Combined treatment resulted in a significant increase in anticipation of arousal compared to placebo (+50 min, t(91) = 2.38; p + .02).
  • Combined treatment significantly attenuated tension-anxiety during the ambulatory period compared to placebo at +245 min (t(88)= -2.32; p=.02) and by trend at +485 min (t(87)= -1.89; p= .06).
  • Combined treatment significantly reduced depression-dejection compared to placebo at +245 min (t(89)= -2.86; p= .01) and compared to rhodiola at +125 min (t(90)= -2.61; p= .01) and +245 min (t(89)=-2.23; p= .03).

Findings suggest that the synergistic effects of magnesium, B6, B9, B12 vitamins, along with rhodiola and green tea extracts, had a positive response in a moderately stress subject group. Differences in EEG results further confirm the mood-stabilizing properties of these selected medicinal plants, vitamins, and minerals. Study limitations include not having baseline and post-treatment levels of selected trial supplements and the lack of information regarding relevant nutritional markers.

Source: Boyle, Neil Bernard, Jac Billington, Clare Lawton, Frits Quadt, and Louise Dye. “A combination of green tea, rhodiola, magnesium and B vitamins modulates brain activity and protects against the effects of induced social stress in healthy volunteers.” Nutritional neuroscience (2021): 1-15.

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

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Posted May 10, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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