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heart-health
According to Harvard Medical School, “lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease may be as easy as drinking green tea. Studies suggest this light, aromatic tea may lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which may be responsible for the tea's association with reduced risk of death from heart disease and stroke.”
Recent Research Papers on
heart-health
Green tea consumption improves plasma lipid profiles in adults
Author: Susana Coimbra and Alice Santos-Silva and Petronila Rocha-Pereira and Susana Rocha and Elisabeth Castro
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western world. Green tea prepared with leaves of Camellia sinensis is particularly rich in antioxidants, which seem to have a crucial role in atherogenesis. The aim of our investigation was to evaluate the effect of green tea drinking on the lipid profile in 29 Portuguese subjects. The lipid profile included the measurement of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a). The measurements were performed at the beginning of the study, and after 3 weeks of drinking 1 L of water, and after 4 weeks of drinking 1 L of green tea daily. Tea was prepared every day at the same conditions of temperature, time of infusion, and concentration. No dilution effect was observed after water drinking. After drinking green tea, a significant beneficial improvement in the lipid profile of subjects was observed. A decrease in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and ratio of cholesterol/HDL-C, but an increase in HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I, was observed in the subjects. No significant differences were observed for triacylglycerol and lipoprotein(a). Our data suggest that drinking green tea has a beneficial effect protecting against the risk for cardiovascular disease by improving blood lipid levels.
Effects of green tea extracts on gene expression in HepG2 and Cal-27 cells
Author: Shin-Pei Yang and Kimberly Wilson and Abdul Kawa and Gregory M. Raner
Green tea extract is known to contain compounds that are able to produce antioxidant effects in many types of living cells. Treatment of cultured human hepatoma (HepG2) cells with green tea extract resulted in dramatically increased expression of at least 15 genes that are present on a commercial human drug metabolism gene array. RT-PCR was used to confirm the microarray results, and analysis of the 5′-flanking region of each of these genes revealed potential electrophile/antioxidant response elements. Members of the acetyl transferase, epoxide hydrolase, sulfotransferase and glutathione transferase gene families were strongly induced. In addition, the human tongue carcinoma cell line Cal-27 did not respond to green tea extract in the same way, as none of the induced genes in the HepG2 cells were induced in the Cal-27 cells. The lack of induction of detoxification enzymes in the Cal-27 cell line may help to explain the previously observed increased cytotoxicity of green tea catechins on this cell line.
The effect of green tea in oxidative stress
Author: Susana Coimbra and Elisabeth Castro and Petronila Rocha-Pereira and Irene Rebelo and Susana Rocha and Alice Santos-Silva
Summary Background & aims Green tea, an infusion prepared with the leaves of Camellia sinensis is particularly rich in flavonoids, which are strong antioxidants. Tea drinking, by providing antioxidants, may become valuable in several oxidative stress conditions. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of green tea drinking on some factors reflecting the development of oxidative stress in plasma and in erythrocytes. Methods The study was performed in 34 Portuguese subjects. We evaluated the total antioxidant status (TAS), the lipid peroxidation products—malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and malonyldialdehyde+4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (MDA+4-HNE)—and the oxidative changes in erythrocyte membrane, namely membrane bound haemoglobin (MBH) and the band 3 profile. Analytical evaluations were performed after 3 weeks drinking 1l of water daily, and after 4 weeks drinking 1l of green tea daily. Tea was prepared daily at the same conditions of temperature, time of infusion and concentration. Results After green tea drinking, we found a significant reduction in serum levels of MDA and MDA+4-HNE and in the oxidative stress within the erythrocyte, as suggested by a significantly lower value of MBH and by changes in band 3 profile towards a normal mean profile, namely an increase in the band 3 monomer. A rise in the antioxidant capacity was also observed. Conclusions Our data suggest for green tea drinking a beneficial effect, by reducing the development or the enhancement of oxidative stress and, therefore, protecting the individual for oxidative stress diseases. Moreover, we propose further studies about the value of band 3 profile and of MBH in providing a cumulative measurement of the effect of green tea drinking upon the oxidative stress in cells. Moreover, further studies are also needed, to clarify the effect of green tea consumption, the value of regular green tea consumption and the way it should be prepared to reach a healthy effect.
Green tea leaf extract improves lipid and glucose homeostasis in a fructose-fed insulin-resistant hamster model
Author: Rachel W. Li and Teresa D. Douglas and Geoffrey K. Maiyoh and Khosrow Adeli and Andre G. Theriault
The present study evaluated the effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaf extract on triglyceride and glucose homeostasis in a fructose-fed hypertriglyceridemic, insulin-resistant hamster model. There was a significant decrease in plasma triglyceride levels following supplementation of the green tea epigallocatechin gallate-enriched extract (42% at 150 mg/(kg day) to 62% at 300 mg/(kg day) for 4 weeks). Compared to baseline, the fructose control group at the end of the study showed elevated serum insulin and apolipoprotein B levels, and decreased serum adiponectin levels. The fructose/green tea extract group showed a reversal in all of these metabolic defects, including an improvement in glucose levels during a glucose tolerance test. Triglyceride content was also examined in various tissues and compared to the control fructose group; supplementation of the green tea extract (300 mg/kg) reduced triglyceride content in liver and heart tissues. There was molecular evidence of improved lipid and glucose homeostasis based on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) protein expression. Compared to the control fructose group, supplementation of the green tea extract (300 mg/kg) significantly increased PPARα and PPARγ protein expression. In summary, the data suggest that intake of the green tea extract ameliorated the fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia and the insulin-resistant state in part through PPAR.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): Chemical and biomedical perspectives
Author: Dale G. Nagle and Daneel Ferreira and Yu-Dong Zhou
The compound (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin found in green tea [Camellia sinensis L. Ktze. (Theaceae)]. This polyphenolic compound and several related catechins are believed to be responsible for the health benefits associated with the consumption of green tea. The potential health benefits ascribed to green tea and EGCG include antioxidant effects, cancer chemoprevention, improving cardiovascular health, enhancing weight loss, protecting the skin from the damage caused by ionizing radiation, and others. The compound EGCG has been shown to regulate dozens of disease-specific molecular targets. Many of these molecular targets are only affected by concentrations of EGCG that are far above the levels achieved by either drinking green tea or consuming moderate doses of green tea extract-based dietary supplements. In spite of this, well-designed double-blinded controlled clinical studies have recently demonstrated the efficacy of green tea extracts and purified EGCG products in patients. Therefore, this review highlights results from what the authors believe to be some of the most clinically significant recent studies and describes current developments in the stereoselective total synthesis of EGCG.
Green tea and its polyphenolic catechins: Medicinal uses in cancer and noncancer applications
Author: Nurulain T. Zaveri
Can drinking several cups of green tea a day keep the doctor away? This certainly seems so, given the popularity of this practice in East Asian culture and the increased interest in green tea in the Western world. Several epidemiological studies have shown beneficial effects of green tea in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. The health benefits associated with green tea consumption have also been corroborated in animal studies of cancer chemoprevention, hypercholesterolemia, artherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other aging-related disorders. However, the use of green tea as a cancer chemopreventive or for other health benefits has been confounded by the low oral bioavailability of its active polyphenolic catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most active catechin. This review summarizes the purported beneficial effects of green tea and EGCG in various animal models of human diseases. Dose-related differences in the effects of EGCG in cancer versus neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, as well as discrepancies between doses used in in vitro studies and achievable plasma understanding of the in vivo effects of green tea catechins in humans, before the use of green tea is widely adopted as health-promoting measure.
Mechanisms of action of green tea catechins, with a focus on ischemia-induced neurodegeneration
Author: Brad A. Sutherland and Rosanna M.A. Rahman and Ian Appleton
Catechins are dietary polyphenolic compounds associated with a wide variety of beneficial health effects in vitro, in vivo and clinically. These therapeutic properties have long been attributed to the catechins' antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects. Emerging evidence has shown that catechins and their metabolites have many additional mechanisms of action by affecting numerous sites, potentiating endogenous antioxidants and eliciting dual actions during oxidative stress, ischemia and inflammation. Catechins have proven to modulate apoptosis at various points in the sequence, including altering expression of anti- and proapoptotic genes. Their anti-inflammatory effects are activated through a variety of different mechanisms, including modulation of nitric oxide synthase isoforms. Catechins' actions of attenuating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response may, in part, account for their confirmed neuroprotective capabilities following cerebral ischemia. The versatility of the mechanisms of action of catechins increases their therapeutic potential as interventions for numerous clinical disorders. However, more epidemiological and clinical studies need to be undertaken for their efficacy to be fully elucidated.
Effect of green tea on angiogenesis and severity of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbit
Author: N. Kavantzas and A. Chatziioannou and A.E. Yanni and D. Tsakayannis and D. Balafoutas and G. Agrogiannis and D. Perrea
Background and Aims Since the development of the atherosclerotic plaque requires the growth of new microvessels in the plaque itself (vasa vasorum), we postulated that green tea may exert an anti-atherogenic effect. Methods and results Thirteen male New Zealand white rabbits were studied for 17 weeks. All rabbits were fed an hypecholesterolemic diet. After 2 weeks of adaptation rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups. Animals in Group A were fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and received plain tap water ad libitum. Animals in Group B were fed with the same diet and furthermore received 2.5% (g/g) green tea for 17 weeks. Conclusion According to our results the atherosclerotic lesions were more severe in Group B than in Group A specimens. Also, the number of \{VEGF\} positively stained foam cells and smooth muscle cells of Group B were significantly greater than in Group A. About 30% less plaque was found in Group A than in the control group (Group B). So, our study showed that the consumption of green tea leads to a reduction of atherosclerosis as well as a significant decrease of VEGF expression in the atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit aorta. The hypothesis that probably green tea may produce its anti-atherogenetic effect through an anti-angiogenetic mechanism needs more investigation.
Green tea impedes dyslipidemia, lipid peroxidation, protein glycation and ameliorates Ca2+-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the heart of streptozotocin-diabetic rats
Author: Pon Velayutham Anandh Babu and Kuruvimalai Ekambaram Sabitha and Chennam Srinivasulu Shyamaladevi
Diabetes-induced hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and protein glycation impair cellular calcium and sodium homeostasis associated with abnormal membrane-bound enzyme activities resulting in cardiac dysfunction in diabetes. To explore the cardioprotective mechanism of green tea in diabetes, we measured the changes in the levels of calcium, sodium, potassium and the activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase in green tea treated diabetic rat hearts. The effect of green tea on triglycerides, lipid peroxidation and protein glycation in diabetic heart were also measured to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg i.p.). Six weeks after the induction of diabetes, some of the diabetic rats were treated orally with green tea extract (GTE) (300 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. GTE produced reduction in blood glucose and lowered the levels of lipid peroxides, triglycerides and extent of protein glycation in the heart of diabetic rats. GTE blunted the rise in cardiac [Ca2+] and [Na+] whereas increased the activities of Ca2+-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the data provide support to the therapeutic effect of GTE and suggest that a possible mechanism of action may be associated with the attenuation of the rise in [Ca2+] and [Na+] by ameliorating Ca2+-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase activities.
Green tea exerts antioxidant action in vitro and its consumption increases total serum antioxidant potential in normal and dyslipidemic subjects
Author: Alissana Ester Iakmiu Camargo and Danielle Alessandra Erdei Daguer and Decio Sabbatini Barbosa
Antioxidant defenses can be characterized as agents (enzymes and low-molecular-mass antioxidants) in biological systems that prevent the noxious action of free radicals or other reactive species. The present study examined whether the use of green tea may exert antioxidant action in vitro and improve antioxidant defenses and serum lipids in normal and dyslipidemic subjects. Forty-one hypercholesterolemic individuals, 18 women and 23 men (age [mean ± SD], 44.81 ± 14.41), were evaluated before and after the daily intake of 6 g of green tea in 500 mL of water for 1 month. Likewise, 27 normolipidemic individuals, 12 women and 15 men (age, 37.07 ± 16.08), were also evaluated. Serum lipids were measured by an automated clinical chemistry system. The total serum antioxidant potential (TRAP) and serum levels of lipid hydroperoxides were quantified using the chemiluminescence method. Total polyphenols present in green tea ingested by the patients were verified by using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. The in vitro evaluation of green tea antioxidant activity was performed using microsomes obtained from rat liver, which was oxidized by tert-butyl hydroperoxide. From this system, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured. In the in vitro test, green tea polyphenols proved to be efficient at protecting microsomes from the oxidant activity of tert-butyl hydroperoxide. There were no significant alterations in the lipid profiles of the normolipidemic or hypercholesterolemic subject groups. Although there was no decrease in lipid hydroperoxides, both groups showed increased antioxidant defenses, which was evidenced by TRAP. In conclusion, the results obtained indicate that besides achieving antioxidant action in vitro, the consumption of green tea increased the TRAP of normal and dyslipidemic subjects.
Other Popular Research Topics
Cognitive Function
Matcha consumption leads to much higher intake of green tea phytochemicals compared to regular green tea. Previous research on caffeine, L-theanine, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) repeatedly demonstrated benefits on cognitive performance.
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Mental Health
Matcha contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which has been shown to reduce physiological and psychological stresses. L-theanine also improves cognition and mood in a synergistic manner with caffeine, and promotes alpha wave production in the brain
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Cancer Prevention
Matcha/green tea has for many centuries been regarded as an essential part of good health in Japan and China. Many believe it can help reduce the risk of cancer, and a growing body of evidence backs this up.
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Immunity
A recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that drinking matcha daily greatly enhanced the overall response of the immune system. The exceedingly high levels of antioxidants in matcha mainly take the form of polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids, each of which aids the body’s defense in its daily struggles against free radicals that come from the pollution in your air, water and foods.
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