title: A single dose of tea with or without milk increases plasma antioxidant activity in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of black and green tea consumption, with and without milk, on the plasma antioxidant activity in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a complete cross-over design, 21 healthy volunteers (10 male, 11 female) received a single dose of black tea, green tea (2 g tea solids in 300 ml water) or water with or without milk. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and at several time points up to 2 h post-tea drinking. Plasma was analysed for total catechins and antioxidant activity, using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of black tea resulted in a significant increase in plasma antioxidant activity reaching maximal levels at about 60 min. A larger increase was observed after consumption of green tea. As anticipated from the higher catechin concentration in green tea, the rise in plasma total catechins was significantly higher after consumption of green tea when compared to black tea. Addition of milk to black or green tea did not affect the observed increases in plasma antioxidant activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of a single dose of black or green tea induces a significant rise in plasma antioxidant activity in vivo. Addition of milk to tea does not abolish this increase. Whether the observed increases in plasma antioxidant activity after a single dose of tea prevent in vivo oxidative damage remains to be established. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 87-92
authors.affiliation: Unilever Nutrition Centre, Unilever Research Vlaardingen, PO Box 114, 3130 AC Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leenen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Roodenburg
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Tijburg
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wiseman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin