Green Tea Supports Cardiovascular Health

By VRP Staff

A recently published clinical trial investigated the effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) on inflammatory markers in obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by central obesity, elevated blood pressure, abnormal serum lipids including increased triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, plus insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. This syndrome is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association reports that over 50 million Americans have the metabolic syndrome.

In this new, randomized, placebo-controlled study, researchers had 35 obese individuals with the metabolic syndrome consume green tea for 8 weeks. The subjects received either 4 cups of green tea per day or 2 capsules of green tea extract plus 4 cups of water per day, or a placebo of 4 cups of water daily. Both the tea and extract capsules had a similar dosage of the active polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Blood tests were performed at the beginning of the study, and again after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.

The study found that both groups receiving green tea supplementation exhibited significantly reduced plasma serum amyloid alpha levels compared to the control group. Serum amyloid alpha is an acute phase reactant that is secreted during the acute phase of inflammation and is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease The results of the study also showed that green tea supplementation did not significantly alter certain correlates of inflammation including C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-1b, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 or the hormones associated with satiety and energy metabolism—leptin and adiponectin.

The study authors concluded, “This study suggests that the daily consumption of green tea beverage or extracts for 8 weeks was well tolerated but did not affect the features of metabolic syndrome. However, green tea significantly reduced plasma serum amyloid alpha, an independent cardiovascular disease risk factor, in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.”

Reference:

Basu A, Du M, Sanchez K, Leyva MJ, Betts NM, Blevins S, Wu M, Aston CE, Lyons TJ. Green tea minimally affects biomarkers of inflammation in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome. Nutrition. 2010 June 3. Published Online Ahead of Print.

Individuals who do not want to consume large amounts of green tea as a beverage can take Green Tea Extract capsules. The Green Tea Extract capsules available here are very low in caffeine and are high in EGCG, an antioxidant polyphenol compound thought to be responsible for many of green tea’s significant health benefits.