title: Effect of green tea decoction on long-term iron, zinc and selenium status of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to examine the effect of green tea decoction given at two different concentrations on the long-term (6 weeks) iron, zinc and selenium status of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the experimental period, the rats were given ad libitum a basic diet + ultra pure water (control group), a basic diet + green tea decoction prepared from 50 g/l (tea 50 group), or a basic diet + green tea decoction prepared from 100 g/l (tea 100 group). The zinc and iron status was evaluated by determining their concentrations in the serum, blood precipitate, liver, spleen, femur, heart and kidney. Selenium status was evaluated by the serum selenium concentration and whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Green tea decoction significantly reduced serum iron by 26% in the tea groups (p < 0.01). The blood precipitate of iron was significantly decreased by 25 and 41% in the tea 50 and tea 100 groups (p < 0.01), respectively. The reserve of iron stored in the liver, spleen and femur was significantly reduced in the tea 100 group by 32% (p < 0.02), 20% (p < 0.04) and 35% (p < 0.005), respectively. Moreover, the two concentrations of green tea significantly decreased the reserve of iron stored in the kidney (p < 0.005) and heart (p < 0.02). In contrast with its effects on iron status, green tea decoction significantly increased the serum zinc in the tea 100 group by 24% (p < 0.001). It also increased the blood precipitate of zinc by 50 (p < 0.01) and 75% (p < 0.0001) in tea 50 and tea 100 groups, respectively. In the kidney, heart and femur, zinc significantly increased in the tea groups dependent on the tea dose. Similarly, the high concentration of green tea decoction significantly increased the serum selenium concentration by 16% (p < 0.004). In addition, both concentrations of green tea decoction significantly increased the whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity by 102 and 130% (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Green tea decoction reduced the iron status and improved the zinc and selenium status of rats. These effects may constitute another beneficial effect of the green tea decoction which could play an important role in the antioxidant processes.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche sur l'Anémie Nutritionnelle et la Biodisponibilité des Oligoéléments, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé de Tunis, Tunisie. hamdaoui.medhedi@gnet.tn
authors.forename: Mohamed Hédi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hamdaoui
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chahed
authors.forename: Soufia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellouze-Chabchoub
authors.forename: Neïla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marouani
authors.forename: Zakia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben Abid
authors.forename: Abderrazek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hédhili
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013662:Tea; D013995:Time; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D007501:Iron; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc