By Jessica Patella, ND abstracted from “Green tea extract reduces blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress and improves parameters associated with insulin resistance in obese, hypertensive patients.” From the Nutrition Research in the 32nd volume of 2012.
Obesity now affects 33% of Americans and obese individuals are at an increased risk of early death, especially due to cardiovascular causes (2). Green tea extract is a concentrated form of green tea leaves and recently it has been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors in obese individuals (1).
The recent research included 56 obese patients (28 men, 28 women) with high blood pressure. The participants were randomly divided into two groups:
- The Green Tea Group received a daily capsule of green tea extract (379mg)
- The Control Group received a daily placebo capsule (1).
The participants supplemented daily for 3 months. After three months, the green tea extract group had significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin levels, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Triglycerides and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha and C-reactive protein). A significant increase in HDL cholesterol was also observed. There were no changes in the placebo group (1). For numerical results, see the following table:
Before green tea extract
|
After green tea extract
|
Significance (P)
| |
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
|
145 +/- 10
|
141 +/- 8
|
0.004
|
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)
|
88 +/- 4
|
84 +/- 3
|
<0.001
|
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)
|
5.4 +/- 1.0
|
5.0 +/- 0.9
|
0.009
|
LDL (mmol/L)
|
3.5 +/- 1.0
|
3.1 +/- 0.9
|
0.011
|
HDL (mmol/L)
|
1.2 +/- 0.2
|
1.4 +/- 0.3
|
<0.001
|
Triglycerides (mmol/L)
|
1.4 +/- 0.6
|
1.1 +/- 0.5
|
0.004
|
Glucose (mmol/L)
|
5.5 +/- 0.4
|
5.3 +/- 0.3
|
0.016
|
Insulin (micromol/L)
|
32.0 +/- 4.3
|
28.7 +/- 3.1
|
<0.001
|
TNF-alpha (ng/L)
|
5.5 +/- 1.8
|
4.7 +/- 1.6
|
<0.001
|
CRP (mg/L)
|
3.4 +/- 2.2
|
2.5 +/- 1.1
|
<0.001
|
This was the first study conducted in patients with obesity-related high blood pressure. The results support emerging theories that inflammation may contribute to hypertension (3), since green tea extract decreased inflammatory markers in this study, as well as blood pressure. It also supports previous research that green tea extract affects lipid or fat metabolism, therefore improving cholesterol levels (4).
In conclusion, the green tea extract had a significant influence on cardiovascular risk factors, including insulin resistance, blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol levels and oxidative stress in participants with obesity-related high blood pressure. Future research with more participants over a longer period of time should be conducted to confirm results.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com
Key Words: Blood Pressure, Obesity, Green Tea, Inflammation, Insulin resistance
REFERENCES:
1. Bogdanski P, et al. Green tea extract reduces blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress and improves parameters associated with insulin resistance in obese, hypertensive patients. Nut Research 2012: 32: 421-427.
2. Weight Control Information Network. Overweight and Obesity Statistics.
3. Montecucco F, et al. Inflammation in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. J Nephrol 2001: 24:23-34.
4. AnandhaBabu PV, et al. Green tea extract impedes dyslipidemia and developments of cardiac dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2006: 33: 1184-9.
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