Green Tea Extract Can Improve the Serum Lipid Profile of Postmenopausal Women

by | Nov 30, 2017 | 2016, Blood Lipids, Cardiovascular Health, Menopause, Women's Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Twelve months of green tea supplementation improved the lipid profiles of the participating postmenopausal women compared to the placebo group by significantly decreasing TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C.

green teaCurrently, cardiovascular disease accounts for the highest number of annual deaths, both in the U.S. as well as abroad 1. While effective management of cholesterol has proven to be difficult through the use of LDL-lowering drugs and statins alone 2, diet therapy may offer greater long-term success for patients. Dietary intake of green tea, for example, is associated with numerous health benefits, including immune support and lowered risk for chronic disease 3. The primary bioactive component in green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), demonstrates significant cholesterol-lowering effects, particularly for total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 4. Meta-analyses have linked green tea extract (GTE) with significant improvement of serum lipid profile in various populations 5. The effects of GTE supplementation in postmenopausal women are of particular interest, given the higher incident rate of heart disease in this demographic group 6. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2016), researchers conducted a one-year trial examining the impact of GTE intake on the blood lipid profile of healthy postmenopausal women.

A total of 936 women (aged 50-70 years) were recruited for participation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomly allocated to receive GTE (containing 1315 mg catechins and 843 mg EGCG) or identical placebo daily for 12 months. At baseline and at 12-month follow-up, researchers assessed standard circulating lipid panels, including TC, LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides from fasting serum samples.

After 12 months of supplementation with green tea, a significant decrease was evident in circulating TC (-2.1% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0004), LDL-C (-4.1% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.0001), and non-HDL-C (-3.1% vs. 0.4%, p < 0.0032). In particular, TC was significantly reduced in women with high TC concentrations at baseline (200 mg/dL or higher) who were treated with GTE (p-interaction = 0.01). No improvements were reported for the GTE group on HDL-C and triglyceride levels.

Overall findings suggest that supplementation with green tea may enhance the serum lipid profile of postmenopausal women, particularly those with elevated baseline TC concentrations. The efficacy of GTE in improving cardiometabolic risk factors may offer a useful, inexpensive complement to conventional treatment of CVD through statins and other pharmaceutical therapies. The precise mode of action by which green tea extract and EGCG induce their lipid-lowering effects are still unknown, however, and thus, require further investigation in the future.

Source: Samavat H, Newman AR, Wang R, et al. Effects of green tea catechin extract on serum lipids in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016; 104: 1671-1682. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.137075.

© 2016 American Society for Nutrition

Posted November 30, 2017.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

References:

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  2. Expert Panel on Detection E. Executive summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Jama. 2001;285(19):2486.
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