Green Tea May Help Cell Health in Those with Metabolic Syndrome

by | May 10, 2013 | 2013, Antioxidants, Metabolic Syndrome

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In this study of 35 people with  metabolic syndrome, those who drank green tea and took green tea extract daily for 8 weeks, had a 47.4% increased level of glutathione and a 56.25 % higher antioxidant capacity when compared to control group.

Metabolic syndrome affects over 47 million Americans. It is characterized by excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen (called “central obesity”), increased blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or higher), and insulin resistance (the body can’t properly use insulin to control blood sugar) (1). Its $4,000 yearly pharmacy cost per patient makes it “the costliest disease you’ve never heard of” (2).

One of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome is cell damage by free radicals that contribute to both the onset and progression of the disease (3, 4). Now a new study (5) suggests that the antioxidants in green tea may help maintain cell health in those with Metabolic Syndrome.

In the study, 35 subjects from a previous study (6) diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups for 8 weeks:

  • Green tea (4 cups per day)
  • Green tea extracts (2 capsules, 4 cups water per day)
  • Control group (4 cups water per day) for 8 weeks

The 4 cups of green tea provided 928 mg per day of green tea antioxidants called catechins and this included 440 mg per day of the most well-known green tea antioxidant, EGCG (Epigallocatechin-Gallate). The 2 capsules provided 460 mg per day of catechins and 460 mg per day of EGCG.

All subjects were asked to refrain from any other sources of green tea, green tea supplements, and beverages containing green tea (other than that provided by the study) and to maintain their usual diet, physical activity, and lifestyle during the study. Blood samples were taken before and after the study.

After 8 weeks, the researchers noted 2 significant changes in the 2 green tea groups compared to the control group. Compared to the control group:

  • Those in the green tea group had 28.3% higher levels of the antioxidant glutathione (2394.88 vs. 1866.15 micrograms/gram of Hemoglobin, p < 0.01) and a 43.75% higher “antioxidant capacity” (7) (2.3 vs. 1.6 micromoles/Liter, p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. And when compared to baseline, the green tea group also saw a 34.3% increase in glutathione (1783.11 to 2394.88 micrograms/g Hb, p < 0.02) compared to an 8.4% increase in the control group (1720.41 to 1866.15 micrograms/g Hb).
  • Those in the green tea extract group had 47.4% higher levels of glutathione (2750.8 vs. 1866.15 micrograms/g Hb, p < 0.01), 56.25% higher “antioxidant capacity” (2.5 vs. 1.6 micromol/L, p < 0.01) when compared to the control group, and when compared to baseline saw a 44.4% increase in glutathione over the 8 weeks (1904.55 to 2750.8 micrograms/g Hb, p < 0.02) compared to the 8.4% increase in the control group.

Why is having higher levels of glutathione so important for cell health? Because Glutathione is “an essential constituent” of the body’s antioxidant defense system and its deficiency has been implicated in aging, cardiovascular disease, and cancer (8).

For the researchers, “These results support the hypothesis that green tea may provide antioxidant protection in the metabolic syndrome.”

Source: Basu, Arpita, et al. “Green tea supplementation increases glutathione and plasma antioxidant capacity in adults with the metabolic syndrome.” Nutrition Research 33.3 (2013): 180-187.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted May 10, 2013

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. American Heart Association Website: “Metabolic Syndrome” posted on the American Heart Association website.
  2. “Metabolic Syndrome: The Costliest Disease You’ve Never Heard Of” – Medical News Today May 9, 2005.
  3. Armutcu F, Ataymen M, Atmaca H, Gurel A. Oxidative stress markers, C-reactive protein and heat shock protein 70 levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:785–90.
  4. Roberts CK, Barnard RJ, Sindhu RK, Jurczak M, Ehdaie A, Vaziri Oxidative stress and dysregulation of NAD(P)H oxidase and antioxidant enzymes in diet-induced metabolic syndrome. Metabolism 2006;55:928–34.
  5. Basu A.  Green tea supplementation increases glutathione and plasma antioxidant capacity in adults with the metabolic syndrome Nutr Res. 2013 Mar;33(3):180-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2012.12.01.
  6. Basu A.  Green tea supplementation affects body weight, lipids, and lipid peroxidation in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome. J Am Coll Nutr 2010;29:31–40.
  7. Miller NJ.  A novel method for measuring antioxidant capacity and its application to monitoring the antioxidant status in premature neonates. Clin Sci 1993;84:407–12. Moskaug JO.  Polyphenols and glutathione synthesis regulation. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:27.