@article{GAI2026, 
author = {Tingting GAI and Yun WANG and Lianfeng ZHANG and Aowen ZHOU and Liangwen CHEN and Huihua CAO},
title = {Repairing Effect of Theanine on High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Damage in Caenorhabditis elegans},
year = {2026},
journal = {Food Science},
volume = {47},
number = {2},
pages = {133-141},
keywords = {theanine, Caenorhabditis elegans, high-sucrose diet-induced damage, bidirectional regulatory effect, molecular mechanism},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250714-117},
doi = {10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250714-117},
abstract = {This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of theanine on high-sucrose diet-induced damage in the nematode model Caenorhabditis elegans. We analyzed the changes in the behavior, development, reproductive capacity, oxidative stress levels, and related gene expression in nematodes following high-sucrose diet-induced damage and theanine intervention (at concentrations of 50 to 1000 μg/mL). The results showed that the high-sucrose diet significantly inhibited the growth and development of C. elegans, reduced its reproductive capacity, and exacerbated oxidative stress. Low-dose theanine (50 μg/mL) effectively alleviated high-sucrose diet-induced damage, while higher doses of theanine (500 and 1000 μg/mL) aggravated oxidative damage. Molecular mechanism studies demonstrated that theanine alleviated oxidative damage by activating fat-2, inducing the expression of cat-1 and sod-3, restoring the expression of gst-4, and increasing the expression of polg-1, thereby regulating three pathways: lipid metabolism, antioxidant defense, and mitochondrial function. In summary, theanine exerted a dose-dependent bidirectional regulatory effect on high-sucrose diet-induced damage, either exerting a protective effect at low doses or potentially causing harmful effects at high doses, through the synergistic regulation of multiple pathways. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring nutritional interventions for diabetes, but its clinical application requires strict control of the safety dose threshold and further validation in mammalian models.}
}