Can black tea influence plasma total homocysteine concentrations?
BACKGROUND
Polyphenols can act as acceptors of methyl groups during the metabolism of methionine to homocysteine. This may result in elevations in plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations after ingestion of polyphenol-rich beverages such as tea.


OBJECTIVE
Our major objective was to determine whether regular, moderate-to-high intakes of black tea alter tHcy concentrations. We also assessed the relation between the degree of O-methylation of tea-derived polyphenols and the change in tHcy with regular ingestion of tea.


METHODS
Twenty-two subjects completed a randomized, controlled crossover study. Subjects consumed 1250 mL black tea/d (5 cups each containing 2 g tea leaves in 250 mL boiled water) and 1250 mL hot water/d for 4 wk each. Fasting tHcy concentrations and 24-h urinary excretion of 4-O-methylgallic acid (4OMGA, the major O-methylated metabolite of gallic acid) were measured at the end of each period. 4OMGA was used as a marker of overall O-methylation of tea-derived polyphenols.


RESULTS
Black tea did not significantly alter mean (+/- SEM) tHcy concentrations (9.9 +/- 0.5 and 10.0 +/- 0.5 micro mol/L for the hot water and black tea periods, respectively). However, the increased excretion of 4OMGA as a consequence of black tea consumption was positively associated with the change in tHcy from the hot water period to the black tea period (r = 0.55, P = 0.008). Subjects in the bottom quartile of increase in 4OMGA excretion had a significant decrease in tHcy (-0.28 +/- 0.10 micro mol/L; P = 0.046), and those in the top quartile had a significant increase in tHcy (0.78 +/- 0.16 micro mol/L; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, regular ingestion of black tea did not alter mean tHcy concentrations. However, individual differences in O-methylation of polyphenolic compounds may influence the ultimate effects of black tea on tHcy.
Hodgson
Jonathan M
JM
School of Medicine & Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia. jonathan@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Burke
Valerie
V
Beilin
Lawrence J
LJ
Croft
Kevin D
KD
Puddey
Ian B
IB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood
D005419:Flavonoids; D008055:Lipids; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; D006710:Homocysteine; C024272:3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid; D005707:Gallic Acid; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D014805:Vitamin B 12