Posted on 07/08/2011 10:31:41 AM PDT by Red Badger
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Xin-Xin Zheng reports that green tea reduces LDL and total cholesterol. This could explain the reasoning behind green tea’s apparent reduction to the risk of heart disease.
Xin-Xin Zheng and his colleagues from Peking Union Medical College pooled the results of 14 previous trials that looked at the consumption of green tea. The researchers divided participants up into one group that had either consumed green tea or taken green tea supplements for up to at least three months and another group which had been given placebos.
In looking at the results, participants who had consumed green tea saw an average reduction in total cholesterol levels of 7.2mg/dL when compared to the control group. LDL cholesterol showed an average reduction of 2.2mg/dL. There was no change reported in the levels of HDL, or good cholesterol.
Green tea contains catechin which is a flavonoid with antioxidant properties. Researchers believe it is these catechins that decrease the absorption of cholesterol in the body and help reduce cholesterol levels.
These catechins have also been shown in previous studies to demonstrate other heart-healthy benefits. They seem to work as a natural blood thinner and anticoagulant as well as reducing inflammation in the blood vessels.
While the reduction of cholesterol in green tea has been shown, it is only a small reduction and researcher’s stress that green tea should not be used in place of standard cholesterol-reducing treatments. Green tea may however be a useful addition to a traditional heart-healthy diet.
More information: Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials, Xin-Xin Zheng, Yan-Lu Xu, Shao-Hua Li, Xu-Xia Liu, Rutai Hui, and Xiao-Hong Huang, Am J Clin Nutr. First published June 29, 2011, doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.010926
Abstract
Background: The effect of green tea beverage and green tea extract on lipid changes is controversial.
Objective: We aimed to identify and quantify the effect of green tea and its extract on total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.
Design: We performed a comprehensive literature search to identify relevant trials of green tea beverages and extracts on lipid profiles in adults. Weighted mean differences were calculated for net changes in lipid concentrations by using fixed-effects or random-effects models. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad score, and a meta-analysis was conducted.
Results: Fourteen eligible randomized controlled trials with 1136 subjects were enrolled in our current meta-analysis. Green tea consumption significantly lowered the TC concentration by 7.20 mg/dL (95% CI: −8.19, −6.21 mg/dL; P < 0.001) and significantly lowered the LDL-cholesterol concentration by 2.19 mg/dL (95% CI: −3.16, −1.21 mg/dL; P < 0.001). The mean change in blood HDL-cholesterol concentration was not significant. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed that these changes were not influenced by the type of intervention, treatment dose of green tea catechins, study duration, individual health status, or quality of the study. Overall, no significant heterogeneity was detected for TC, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol; and results were reported on the basis of fixed-effects models.
Conclusion: The analysis of eligible studies showed that the administration of green tea beverages or extracts resulted in significant reductions in serum TC and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but no effect on HDL cholesterol was observed.
right, it is, but it isnt a statin, that is the key, has no known side effects etc....
personally, wish i didnt have to take anything, cant stand docs more homeopathich natural med kinda guy....
right, it is, but it isnt a statin, that is the key, has no known side effects etc....
personally, wish i didnt have to take anything, cant stand docs more homeopathich natural med kinda guy....
A local supermarket chain here sells a very good off-brand of green tea, 100 bags for a buck. Often they are sold out. I think local Chinese restaurant owners clean them out each time they get a delivery.
I quit a 26 year tobacco habit this year and drink Green Tea everyday. Supposedly, it’s good for healing up tobacco damage and I’ve actually gotten to like it. Might explain why my cholesterol is in the 160’s at my last physical.
Why don’t the restaurant owners contact the supplier and get them wholesale?.....................
I tried that.
The green tea doesn’t burn as well as tobacco. And it stinks up the house..................
Drops 20 points off my blood sugar when I drink a cup
There was no change reported in the levels of HDL, or good cholesterol. "
Niacin 2600 mg per day, reduced my TC, LDL and triglycerides, while raising my HDL. (All good results). After about two months, I reduced amount to 1600 mg/day. This is Nicotinic acid, the kind that causes flushing. To avoid that, take an uncoated aspirin or break it up. The inositol hexaniacinate did not work for me. Stay away from the timed release stuff. I got off the prescription Niaspan as well.
Wouldn’t plain water do that, too?................
The ‘shelf life’ of green tea is shorter because it’s not highly processed.
I like the japanese Ito En green tea Costco sells, 100 bags for $12. I throw a bag into a bottle of water, tighten the cap over the string, then let it brew upside down in the fridge for a couple hours. Sweeten to taste, maybe add a little lemon, and for twenty cents you have half a litre of something very good indeed....
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