Boyle, NB orcid.org/0000-0002-0604-4712, Dye, L, Lawton, CL et al. (1 more author) (2022) A Combination of Green Tea, Rhodiola, Magnesium, and B Vitamins Increases Electroencephalogram Theta Activity During Attentional Task Performance Under Conditions of Induced Social Stress. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. 935001. ISSN 2296-861X
Abstract
Background: A combination of green tea, rhodiola and magnesium with B vitamins has previously been reported to significantly increase EEG resting state theta, attenuate subjective stress, anxiety and mood disturbance, and heighten subjective and autonomic arousal under acute psychosocial laboratory stress. Here we examine the capacity of green tea and rhodiola extract administered in combination or in isolation with magnesium and B vitamins to moderate spectral brain activity during attentional task performance under stress.
Materials and Methods: One-hundred moderately stressed adults received oral supplementation of (i) Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola; (ii) Mg + B vitamins + rhodiola; (iii) Mg + B vitamins + green tea; or (iv) placebo, in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03262376; 25/0817). Participants completed an attention switching and emotionally threatening attentional bias task after stress induction (Trier Social Stress Test). Spectral alpha and theta brain activity and event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during cognitive task performance by electroencephalogram (EEG; BioSemi ActiveTwo 64 channel).
Results: The combined treatment of Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola significantly increased frontal midline theta vs. placebo and rhodiola in isolation during the attention switching task, specifically in anticipation of a change in task performance parameter. The combined treatment also significantly increased contralateral theta activation in relation to viewing emotionally threatening images in the left (vs. placebo and rhodiola in isolation) and right parietal (vs. placebo) regions. Further, this treatment demonstrated significantly heightened ipsilateral left parietal theta activation in relation to viewing emotionally threatening images. The combined treatment attenuated a decrease in alpha power during the attentional bias task evident in comparator treatments, but this did not reach significance. No significant effects of treatments on behavioural performance or ERP were found.
Conclusion: The combination of Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola increased spectral theta brain activity during the execution of two attentional tasks suggestive of a potential to increase attentional capacity under conditions of stress. Further examination of these ingredients in relation to attentional performance under stress is warranted to ascertain if functional benefits suggested by theta activation can be shown behaviourally.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 Boyle, Dye, Lawton and Billington. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). |
Keywords: | stress, green tea, rhodiola, magnesium, EEG |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Sanofi Aventis Groupe Not Known |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Aug 2022 14:48 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 23:04 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Frontiers Media |
Identification Number: | 10.3389/fnut.2022.935001 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:190146 |