Bioavailability of catechins from tea: the effect of milk.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the blood concentration of catechins following green or black tea ingestion and the effect of addition of milk to black tea.


METHODS
Twelve volunteers received a single dose of green tea, black tea and black tea with milk in a randomized cross-over design with one-week intervals. Blood samples were drawn before and up to eight hours after tea consumption.


METHODS
The study was performed at the Unilever Research Vlaardingen in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Twelve healthy adult volunteers (7 females, 5 males) participated in the study. They were recruited among employees of Unilever Research Vlaardingen.


METHODS
Green tea, black tea and black tea with semi-skimmed milk (3 g tea solids each).


RESULTS
Consumption of green tea (0.9 g total catechins) or black tea (0.3 g total catechins) resulted in a rapid increase of catechin levels in blood with an average maximum change from baseline (CVM) of 0.46 micromol/l (13%) after ingestion of green tea and 0.10 micromol/l (13%) in case of black tea. These maximum changes were reached after (mean (s.e.m.)) t=2.3 h (0.2) and t=2.2 h (0.2) for green and black tea respectively. Blood levels rapidly declined with an elimination rate (mean (CVM)) of t1/2=4.8 h (5%) for green tea and t1/2=6.9 h (8%) for black tea. Addition of milk to black tea (100 ml in 600 ml) did not significantly affect the blood catechin levels (areas under the curves (mean (CVM) of 0.53 h. micromol/l (11%) vs 0.60 h. micromol/l (9%) for black tea and black tea with milk respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Catechins from green tea and black tea are rapidly absorbed and milk does not impair the bioavailability of tea catechins.
van het Hof
K H
KH
Unilever Research Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
Kivits
G A
GA
Weststrate
J A
JA
Tijburg
L B
LB
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002392:Catechin / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D013662:Tea
D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin