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29.03.2015

Ornithine strengthens mental effects of caffeine

The stimulant caffeine has more effect when combined with the amino acid ornithine write researchers at the Japanese Kirin Company in Preventive Nutrition and Food Science. According to the Japanese, ornithine not only enhances the desirable mental effects of caffeine, it also helps these effects to last longer.

Ornithine - caffeine
In December 2013 the researchers at the Kirin Company obtained the American patent for supplements and foods that have a stimulatory effect as a result of the combination of ornithine and caffeine. [[US20130324563 A1] Six weeks later, in mid February 2014, Kirin launched ON Powered Refreshment: a soft drinks line containing the patented combination. [bevnet.com February 17, 2014]

And a few months later again, in the summer of 2014, the researchers sent their human study on the effects of the ornithine-caffeine mix to the editors at Preventive Nutrition and Food Science.

Study
The researchers gave 19 employees of the company a capsule containing 100 mg caffeine [above, structural formula shown in the centre] and 250 mg ornithine HCL at 9.30 in the morning. The latter dose is equivalent to 200 mg ornithine [structural formula on the left]. On another occasion the subjects were given a capsule containing only 100 mg caffeine, and on yet another occasion a capsule containing no active ingredients.

Results
Just before the subjects took the capsule the researchers measured the cortisol concentration in their saliva. They repeated this an hour later and discovered that the ornithine-caffeine combination reduced the concentration of cortisol.

The researchers got the subjects to fill out questionnaires to find out how healthy they were feeling [Vigor], and discovered that the combination enhanced this feeling more than caffeine did on its own.

The ornithine-caffeine combination also resulted in a stronger decrease in fatigue and an increase in clear mindedness.

The effects of the combination became more pronounced as the day progressed, but the researchers don't know how this happens.

Mechanism
The researchers refer to a couple of ideas they found in the literature as to why the ornithine-caffeine combo is so effective. One is that caffeine inhibits the enzyme arginase. [Ital J Biochem. 1989 Mar-Apr;38(2):75-82.] [Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Feb;244(1-2):125-8.] Arginase breaks down L-arginine. If arginase isn't working so well, the amount of L-arginine increases.

Ornithine is a precursor of arginine, and therefore also causes a rise in arginine levels. More arginine means that the body synthesises more nitrogen monoxide (NO), and NO in turn can boost the concentration of the brain's mood enhancing neurotransmitter dopamine. And caffeine boosts the activity of dopamine too.

Conclusion
"Our results strongly suggest that there was a unique interaction between the caffeine and ornithine consumed by healthy office workers, and that ornithine may potentiate the effect of caffeine", the Japanese wrote.

"Future studies are needed to identify the specific mechanisms of action that underline the unique relationship between caffeine and ornithine. These studies will be important for providing guidance on the interactions of supplements with caffeine when preparing foods and beverages to help prevent excessive stress in office workers. We hope the present study will be the basis for future studies."

Source:
Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2014 Dec;19(4):367-72.

More:
400-mg capsule of L-ornithine improves sleep 26.03.2015
Do you sleep badly in the summer? Maybe ornithine can help 06.09.2013
Handful of ornithine caps before strength training boosts GH level 23.08.2011

Archives:
Ornithine
Caffeine

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