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Epidemiological evidence of increased bone mineral density in habitual tea drinkers.

BACKGROUND: Researchers have hypothesized that bone mineral density (BMD) may be influenced by chemical compounds such as caffeine, phytoestrogen, fluoride, and many compounds that are contained in tea extracts. Hence, the relationship between habitual tea consumption and BMD is an interesting issue. METHODS: Based on an epidemiological survey, we enrolled 497 men and 540 women, 30 years and older, in our study. All subjects were questioned about their habit of tea consumption and other lifestyle characteristics by means of a structured questionnaire. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the BMD of the total body, lumbar spine (L1-L4), hip neck, and Ward triangle regions. RESULTS: Five hundred two subjects (48.4%) were habitual tea drinkers, with a mean duration of tea consumption of approximately 10 years. Compared with nonhabitual tea drinkers, subjects with habitual tea consumption of 6 to 10 years showed higher lumbar spine BMDs, and those with consumption of more than 10 years showed the highest BMDs of all measured regions. Under the multiple stepwise regression models, sex, age, body mass index, total physical activity, and habit of tea consumption were the major significant variables for the different BMD regions. Regarding the behavioral characteristics of tea consumption, the duration of tea consumption was the only independent determinant for the BMDs. CONCLUSION: Habitual tea consumption, especially for more than 10 years, has significant beneficial effects on BMD of the total body, lumbar spine, and hip regions in adults.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Effects of black tea extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation in liver, kidneys, and testes of rats.

Previous studies have shown that green tea and black tea have antioxidant effects and chemopreventive activity against chronic disease including some forms of cancer. We have, therefore, examined the effects of an aqueous extract of black tea against carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation as determined by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in liver, kidneys and testes of rats. A 0.7% black tea extract was used which contained 2 mg of black tea extract solids per mL. Black tea was administered as drinking water for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months before and during carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment in female and male rats. Rats were treated with a single oral dose of CCl(4) 1.0 mL/kg. All rats were killed 24 h after CCl(4) treatment. All animals were dosed with CCl(4) at the end of the 3, 6, 9, and 12 month of treatment. Black tea treatment for 75 days produced a decrease in CCl(4)-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation but significant decreases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances occurred 3 months after treatment in both female and male rats. In liver and kidneys, black tea alone increased lipid peroxidation by 30%-50% in female and male rats. However, black tea decreased CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation in liver of female and male rats by approximately 49% and 37%, respectively. Black tea decreased CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation in testes by approximately 37% at a dose of 1.0 mL CCl(4)/kg. These results suggest that the protective effects of black tea against CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation in liver, kidneys and testes is due at least partly to its antioxidant properties, scavenging CCl(4)-associated free radicals.

Animals↗

Hypocholesterolemic effects of Chinese tea.

Chinese teas with different degrees of fermentation were examined for their effect on diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. The teas tested were Chinese Green tea, Jasmine, Iron Buddha, Oolong and Pu erh. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding rats with a cholesterol-enriched diet for 1 week. They were then treated with different tea extracts together with a cholesterol-enriched diet for another 8 weeks. Chinese Green tea and Jasmine tea, both with a minimum degree of fermentation, were found to have significant serum and liver cholesterol lowering effects. They also reduced the increase in liver weight due to lipid deposition. All tea treatments lowered the atherogenic index and increased the HDL-total cholesterol ratio, while HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly affected. Analysis of catechin levels in tea extracts showed that the individual catechin component in Chinese Green tea and Jasmine tea were significantly higher than the others. (-)-Epicatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in the tea extracts may account for their hypocholesterolemic effect.

Animals↗

Green-tea consumption and risk of stomach cancer: a population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China.

The effect of drinking Chinese green tea on the risk of stomach cancer was evaluated in a population-based case-control study conducted in Shanghai, China, from October 1991 to December 1993. Eligible cases were incident cases of primary stomach cancer diagnosed during the study period among residents of Hongkou district and Nanhui county aged under 80 years. Controls were selected from the same street or commune where the case resided and were matched to the cases on age (within three years) and gender. A total of 711 cases and 711 matched controls, more than 90 percent of the eligible subjects, completed the interview. Information was obtained on the types of tea used, age when habitual tea drinking started, frequency of new batches of tea leaves used per day, number of cups brewed from each batch, total duration of drinking for each batch, strength and temperature of the tea consumed. Statistical analysis was based on modelling through conditional logistic regression. After adjusting for age, gender, place of residence, education, birthplace, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking, the odds ratio (OR) comparing drinkers of green tea with nondrinkers was 0.71 (95 percent confidence interval = 0.54-0.93). The adjusted OR decreased with increasing number of new batches of the green tea consumed each day (P value trend = 0.006). With the largest series of stomach cancer cases to date, this study found green-tea consumption associated with lower risk of stomach cancer. Among drinkers of green tea, the risk of stomach cancer did not depend on the age when habitual green-tea drinking started. Green tea may disrupt gastric carcinogenesis at both the intermediate and the late stages.

Adult↗

Effects of black tea consumption on plasma catechins and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease.

We previously demonstrated that black tea consumption reverses endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. To investigate potential mechanisms of this effect, we examined plasma catechins and systemic markers of oxidation, inflammation, and antioxidant protection from 66 subjects enrolled in that study. We collected samples at baseline, 2 h after 450 ml of black tea (acute), after 4 weeks of 900 ml of black tea per day (chronic), and after acute and chronic consumption of water. Total catechins increased 33% after acute tea (P < 0.05) and 29% after chronic tea (P < 0.05). Of individual catechins, plasma epicatechin gallate (ECG) concentration significantly increased with acute tea consumption, and plasma epicatechin (EC) increased with chronic tea consumption. Tea consumption did not improve plasma antioxidant capacity and did not reduce urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, or urinary 8-isoprostane levels. Changes in catechin levels did not correlate with changes in endothelial function, plasma markers of oxidative stress, or C-reactive protein. In contrast, endothelial function at baseline correlated with dietary flavonoid intake (beta = 0.32, P = 0.02) and with baseline plasma EC concentration after adjusting for confounding variables (beta = 0.39, P = 0.03). These findings suggest that the benefits of black tea consumption on endothelial function may not be attributable to tea catechins or a systemic antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effect. Chronic dietary flavonoid status appears to relate to endothelial function, possibly suggesting that other flavonoids or polyphenolic components of tea favorably influence vascular health and risk for cardiovascular disease.

Catechin↗

Response of Apc(min) and A33 (delta N beta-cat) mutant mice to treatment with tea, sulindac, and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP).

There is growing interest in the potential health benefits of tea, and a recent report described the potent antimutagenic activity of white tea in comparison with green tea against several heterocyclic amines, including 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) [Mutat. Res. 495 (2001) 61]. We compared the inhibitory effects of white and green teas with sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, in two different mouse models of intestinal tumorigenesis. In the Apc(min) mouse, white and green teas given at human-relevant concentrations (1.5% w/v, 2-min brew), and sulindac (80 ppm in the drinking water), each suppressed polyp formation by approximately 50%, and the combination of white tea plus sulindac was more effective than either treatment alone (P=0.05). Mice expressing an N-terminally truncated, oncogenic version of beta-catenin (A 33(delta N beta-cat) mutant mice) developed colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) spontaneously, but PhIP treatment increased the incidence and number of ACF per colon. In the normal-looking intestinal mucosa of Apc(min) and A 33(delta N beta-cat) mice, white tea plus sulindac treatment markedly attenuated the expression of beta-catenin protein, and this was recapitulated in vitro in cells transiently transfected with beta-catenin plus Tcf-4 and treated with tea or the major tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Expression of a beta-catenin/Tcf reporter was inhibited by EGCG in the transfected cells, and the beta-catenin/Tcf target genes cyclin D1 and c-jun were downregulated in vivo by tea plus sulindac treatment. Collectively, the data support a chemopreventive role for tea and sulindac against intermediate and late stages of colon cancer, via effects on the beta-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein↗

Direct reduction of N-acetoxy-PhIP by tea polyphenols: a possible mechanism for chemoprevention against PhIP-DNA adduct formation.

The chemopreventive effect of tea against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-DNA adduct formation and its mechanism were studied. Rats were exposed to freshly prepared aqueous extracts of green tea (3% (w/v)) as the sole source of drinking water for 10 days prior to administration with a single dose of PhIP (10 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage. PhIP-DNA adducts in the liver, colon, heart, and lung were measured using the 32P-postlabelling technique. Rats pre-treated with tea and given PhIP 20 h before sacrifice had significantly reduced levels of PhIP-DNA adducts as compared with controls given PhIP alone. The possible mechanism of protective effect of tea on PhIP-DNA adduct formation was then examined in vitro. It was found that an aqueous extract of green and black tea, mixtures of green and black tea polyphenols, as well as purified polyphenols could strongly inhibit the DNA binding of N-acetoxy-PhIP, a putative ultimate carcinogen of PhIP formed in vivo via metabolic activation. Among these, epigallocatechin gallate was exceptionally potent. HPLC analyses of these incubation mixtures containing N-acetoxy-PhIP and the tea polyphenols each revealed the production of the parent amine, PhIP, indicating the involvement of a redox mechanism. In view of the presence of relatively high levels of tea polyphenols in rat and human plasma after ingestion of tea, this study suggests that direct reduction of the ultimate carcinogen N-acetoxy-PhIP by tea polyphenols is likely to be involved in the mechanism of chemoprotection of tea against this carcinogen.

Animals↗

Contribution of caffeine and flavanols in the induction of hepatic Phase II activities by green tea.

Aqueous extracts of green tea, at concentrations of 2.5. 5.0 and 7.5%, were administered to rats as the sole drinking fluid for 4 weeks. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, determined using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB) as substrates, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activity, determined using 2-aminophenol as substrate, were induced but the effect was not always dose dependent. At the two highest doses, hepatic catalase activity was inhibited. In a second study, animals were exposed for 4 weeks to aqueous extracts (2.5%, v/v) of green tea, black tea (which has a much lower content of flavanols compared with green tea) and decaffeinated black tea. Treatment with the black tea enhanced GST activity, whether monitored using CDNB or DCNB, and the glucuronidation of 2-aminophenol. Treatment with decaffeinated black tea failed to modulate any of these activities, whereas treatment with green tea only enhanced the glucuronidation of 2-aminophenol. Finally, at this concentration of tea extract administration, black and decaffeinated black tea, but not green tea, suppressed catalase activity. It is concluded that neither flavanols nor caffeine are responsible for the induction of hepatic Phase II activities and inhibition of catalase activity in the rat.

Aminophenols↗

Black tea consumption and risk of rectal cancer in Moscow population.

PURPOSE: This population-based case-control study (663 cases and 323 controls) examined the effect of black tea intake on the risk of rectal cancer in Moscow residents. The Moscow population was selected for its wide range of black tea consumption. METHODS: This study used three measures of tea consumption: the volume of beverage (l/month), zavarka (tea concentrate, l/month), and dry tea (g/month). We calculated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these three parameters of tea intake using logistic regression. RESULTS: Greater use of dry tea was associated with lower risk of rectal cancer in women (high vs. low: OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.70) and in men (high vs. low: OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.42-1.43). The observed effect was weaker when tea was measured as zavarka (high vs. low in women: OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.83; in men: OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.52-1.96) and as beverage volume (high vs. low in women: OR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.39-1.19; in men: OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.53-2.09). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that black tea consumption reduces the risk of rectal cancer. The attenuation of the effect across the three measures of tea intake can be explained by an increasing degree of exposure misclassification from dry tea to zavarka and beverage volume.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Consumption of tea modulates the urinary excretion of mutagens in rats treated with IQ. Role of caffeine.

The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the consumption of green tea and black tea influences the excretion of mutagens and promutagens in rats treated orally with the food carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). Rats were maintained on aqueous extracts (2.5%, w/v) of green tea, black tea or decaffeinated black tea as their sole drinking liquid. After 4 weeks, the animals received, by gastric intubation, a single dose of IQ (5 mg/kg), and urine was collected for 48 h. Direct and indirect mutagenicity, in the presence of an activation system derived from Aroclor 1254-treated rats, was determined in the urine samples using the Ames mutagenicity assay. Consumption of green tea and black tea, but not of decaffeinated black tea, markedly decreased the urinary excretion of mutagens and promutagens. In a further study, supplementation of decaffeinated black tea with caffeine suppressed the excretion of mutagens and promutagens in the urine of rats pretreated with IQ. It is concluded that both green tea and black tea modulate the bioactivation and metabolism of IQ, and that caffeine is largely responsible for this effect.

Animals↗

Factors affecting the caffeine and polyphenol contents of black and green tea infusions.

The effects of product and preparation variables on the in-cup chemical composition of tea extracts is of interest because the appearance and taste characteristics and the possible health effects of a tea liquor arise from the chemical components extracted from the leaf during tea preparation. A comprehensive study was therefore undertaken to determine the contributions of product and preparation variables on the total soluble solids, caffeine, and polyphenol contents of tea extracts. The results of this study show that the variety, growing environment, manufacturing conditions, and grade (particle size) of the tea leaves each influence the tea leaf and final infusion compositions. In addition, the composition of the tea infusion was shown to be influenced by whether the tea was contained in a teabag and, if so, the size and material of construction of the bag. Finally, the preparation method, including the amounts of tea and water used, infusion time, and amount of agitation, was shown to be a major determinant of the component concentrations of tea beverages as consumed. An illustration of the variation introduced by these product and preparation factors is provided by comparing solids, caffeine, and polyphenol contents of green and black tea infusions when commercial products are prepared according to the instructions given on their packaging.

Caffeine↗

Effect of green tea supplementation on insulin sensitivity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Epidemiological observations and laboratory studies have shown that green tea has a variety of health effects, including antitumor, antioxidative, and hypolipidemic activities. The aim of this study was to examine whether it had an effect on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Sprague-Dawley rats. In experiment 1 (in vivo study), rats were divided into two groups: a control group fed standard chow and deionized distilled water and a "green tea" group fed the same chow diet but with green tea instead of water (0.5 g of lyophilized green tea powder dissolved in 100 mL of deionized distilled water). After 12 weeks of green tea supplementation, the green tea group had lower fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and free fatty acid than the control rats. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of, and insulin binding to, adipocytes were significantly increased in the green tea group. In experiment 2 (in vitro study), a tea polyphenol extract was used to determine its effect on insulin activity in vitro. Green tea polyphenols (0.075%) significantly increased basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of adipocytes. Results demonstrated that green tea increases insulin sensitivity in Sprague-Dawley rats and that green tea polyphenol is one of the active components.

Adipocytes↗

Role of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase in the generation of black tea theaflavins.

It has been reported earlier that when macerated tea leaf is fermented at lower pH, the resultant black tea contains increased levels of theaflavin, an important quality marker in black tea. In an attempt to investigate the biochemistry and chemistry underlying this observation, in vitro oxidation experiments using polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from fresh tea leaves, horseradish peroxidase (POD), and tea catechins, precursors for theaflavins, were carried out. In vitro oxidation experiments using crude tea PPO resulted in higher content of theaflavins at pH 4.5 in comparison with pH 5.5, the normal pH of the macerated tea leaf. When purified PPO was used in the in vitro system, surprisingly a reversal of this trend was observed, with more theaflavins being formed at the higher pH. A combination of pure tea PPO and POD led to an observation similar to that with the crude enzyme preparation, suggesting a possible role for POD in the formation or degradation of theaflavin. POD was observed to oxidize theaflavins in the presence of H(2)O(2), leading to the formation of thearubigin, another black tea pigment. This paper demonstrates that tea PPO, while oxidizing catechins, generates H(2)O(2). The amount of H(2)O(2) produced is greater at pH 5.5, the optimum pH for PPO activity, than at pH 4.5. Hence, an observed increase of theaflavins in black teas fermented at pH 4.5 appears to be due to lower turnover of formed theaflavins into thearubigins.

Biflavonoids↗

Relationship among habitual tea consumption, percent body fat, and body fat distribution.

OBJECTIVE: To disclose the possible relationship between habitual tea consumption and changes in total body fat and fat distribution in humans. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional survey of 1,210 epidemiologically sampled adults (569 men and 641 women) were enrolled in our study. Tea consumption and other lifestyle characteristics were obtained by structured questionnaires. Percent body fat (BF%) was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Body fat distribution was assessed using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: Among the 1,103 analyzed subjects, 473 adults (42.9%) consumed tea once or more per week for at least 6 months. The habitual tea drinkers were male-dominant, more frequently current smokers, and alcohol or coffee drinkers than the nonhabitual tea drinkers. Habitual tea drinkers for more than 10 years showed a 19.6% reduction in BF% and a 2.1% reduction in WHR compared with nonhabitual tea drinkers. The multiple stepwise regression models revealed that men, older age, higher BMI, and current smokers were positive factors for BF% and WHR. In contrast, longer duration of habitual tea consumption and higher total physical activity were negative factors for BF%. Longer duration of habitual tea consumption, higher socioeconomic status, and premenopausal status were negative factors for WHR. DISCUSSION: An inverse relationship may exist among habitual tea consumption, BF%, and body fat distribution, especially for subjects who have maintained the habit of tea consumption for more than 10 years.

Adipose Tissue↗

Effects of regular ingestion of black tea on haemostasis and cell adhesion molecules in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects in humans of regular ingestion of black tea on haemostasis-related variables and cell adhesion molecules. DESIGN: Twenty-two subjects were recruited from the general population to a randomised-controlled crossover study. Subjects stopped drinking tea, apart from that provided, for the duration of the study. During a 4-week baseline period all subjects drank 5 cups/day (250 ml) of hot water. The effects of 5 cups/day of black tea for 4 weeks were then compared with hot water. Platelet aggregation in response to three doses of collagen and ADP, plasma concentrations of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors (fibrinogen, factor VII, tPA, PAI-1) and plasma concentrations of cell adhesion molecules (soluble P-selectin, E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1) were assessed twice, one week apart, at the end of each period. Twenty-four hour urinary concentration of 4-O-methylgallic acid (4OMGA), assessed once at the end of each period, was used as a marker of black tea polyphenol intake. RESULTS: The 24 h urinary excretion of 4OMGA was increased during regular ingestion of black tea in comparison to hot water (P<0.0001). Black tea resulted in lower soluble P-selectin (P=0.01) in comparison to hot water, but did not influence other adhesion molecules. Soluble P-selectin was significantly correlated with mean collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation at baseline (r=0.61, P=0.003), and during regular ingestion of hot water (r=0.70, P<0.0001) and black tea (r=0.51, P=0.01). However, platelet aggregation was not different between the black tea and hot water periods for collagen- or ADP-stimulated aggregation at any dose. Coagulation and fibrinolytic factors were also not different between periods. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of black tea on soluble P-selectin provides a potential mechanism for cardiovascular benefits of regular ingestion of tea. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by grants from the Tea Trade Health Research Association and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

Adult↗

The relation between single/double or repeated tea catechin ingestions and plasma antioxidant activity in humans.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of single/double or repeated intake of a normal amount of tea catechin on plasma catechin concentrations and antioxidant activity in young women. DESIGN: First, after an overnight fast, five healthy subjects were given water or single/double dose(s) of tea polyphenol extract (164 mg tea catechins containing 61% epigallocatechin gallate in 190 ml water). Blood samples were taken before and 30, 60 and 180 min after the ingestion. Second, 16 healthy subjects ingested the tea polyphenol extract three times a day at mealtimes for 7 days followed by withdrawal of tea polyphenol extract for 7 days. Blood samples were taken before and after ingestion, and 7 days after the withdrawal of tea catechin. Subjects were prohibited from drinking any beverages containing polyphenols or antioxidant supplements during the study period. Catechin and other antioxidant concentrations in the plasma were measured, and changes in antioxidant activity were evaluated by ferric reducing ability of plasma assay. RESULTS: Single/double ingestion of tea polyphenol extract did not cause an increase in the antioxidant activity. There was no also change in antioxidant activity after the ingestion of tea polyphenol extract for 7 days. Plasma-free epigallocatechin gallate concentration remained at the pre-study level; however, the plasma FRAP value decreased significantly at 7 days after the withdrawal of tea polyphenol extract. Decreases in endogenous antioxidants in the plasma, including vitamin C and bilirubin, were also observed 7 days after withdrawal of tea polyphenol. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that continuous daily intake of tea catechins affects the concentrations of endogenous antioxidants in the plasma and has the potential to maintain total antioxidant activity.

Adult↗

Impact of tea drinking on iron status in the UK: a review.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this review are (1) to evaluate the literature on the likely impact of tea drinking on the iron status of different groups within the UK population and (2) to formulate targeted and evidence based advice on tea drinking in the context of iron nutrition in different groups of people. METHOD: A literature search identified 35 references specific to the effects of black tea on iron absorption and iron nutrition plus one recent review article. Each study was assessed in terms of methodogical quality and relevance to the tea drinking patterns of the UK population. RESULTS: There is clear evidence to show that tea drinking limits the absorption of nonhaem iron. However, there are few studies which have assessed the influence of tea drinking on indicators of iron status. There are no intervention studies and the conclusions reported in this review are based on 12 observational studies mostly from other countries. These studies have reported either significant negative correlations between tea drinking and blood indicators of iron status or more cases of anemia in tea drinkers compared with nontea drinkers. Many of the studies reviewed report additional relationships between iron status indices and other factors (both dietary and nondietary), highlighting the complexity of influences on iron absorption and iron status. CONCLUSION: From the available evidence there is no need to advise any restriction on tea drinking in healthy people with no risk of iron deficiency. In groups at risk of iron deficiency the advice should be to drink tea between meals and to wait at least 1 h after eating before drinking tea.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

Inhibition of urinary bladder tumors induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine in rats by green tea.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the anticarcinogenic effects of green tea have been studied in sites other than the urinary tract. The present study examined the inhibition by green tea of vesical tumors induced in rats by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN). METHODS: In the first series of experiments, 0.05% BBN was added to the drinking water of rats and remained present for 5 weeks. In one experiment, six groups of animals received either tap water, green tea, matcha, hojicha, oolong tea or black tea from week 6. In a second experiment, three groups of rats received either tap water, green tea extract or powdered green tea mixed into a pellet diet from week 6. In a third experiment, five groups of rats were fed a pellet diet with addition of either 0, 0.15, 1.5 or 3.0% powdered green tea from week 6. All rats were killed and examined at 40 weeks. RESULTS: Green tea, particularly green tea leaves, dose-dependently inhibited the growth of BBN-induced urinary bladder tumors when given after the carcinogen. CONCLUSIONS: Green tea may inhibit bladder tumor growth.

Animals↗