According to Taiyo, Suntheanine has been subjected to clinical trials evaluating its efficacy in PMS with promising results. In addition, calcium, magnesium and a mixture of the two minerals have been shown to ameliorate PMS, of which as many as 150 symptoms can be developed.
The patent allows for the use of suntheanine and minerals in dry foods, supplements and liquid foods, including beverages.
Minerals have been added to such foods in the past but they have a tendency to give the product a peculiar metal taste, meaning either that the amount of minerals added has to be limited so that the product is palatable or that its commercial value is reduced.
As well as its symptom-relieving properties, the patent notes that Suntheanine's "umami" flavour - the refreshing, astringent taste of tea - masks the unpleasant taste of the minerals.
Taiyo Kagaku currently has over 50 US and international patents and patents pending for Suntheanine.
"This most recent award from the US Patent Office magnifies the inventiveness of Suntheanine and its supportive body of scientific evidence, offering the intellectual assets and competitive advantage highly desired by our customers," said Scott Smith, vice president of US subsidiary Taiyo International.
Last March researchers at The National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health in Tokyo released the results of a clinical study carried out using Suntheanine suggesting that L-theanine could enhance the quality of sleep experienced by young men.
Taiyo Kagaku's acquisition of Chinese Wuxi Green Power Bio-Product to form Taiyo Green Power made it the world's largest green tea extract manufacturer with the ability to leverage lower production costs and increase its advantage over the competition.