Green tea and stroke prevention: emerging evidence.
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries. Green tea is a simple and inexpensive beverage that is showing promise in the prevention of several diseases, including stroke. However, epidemiological studies examining the preventive effects of tea on stroke have generated inconsistent results.


OBJECTIVE
To review the emerging evidence for green tea in stroke prevention.


METHODS
Published articles were located by searching the PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL and other databases, using the keywords 'tea' and 'stroke' with no restriction on publication date. Reference lists of identified articles were also searched for relevant publications.


RESULTS
Two published epidemiological studies on green tea reported positive findings. A large number of studies have also proposed biological mechanisms by which tea or tea components may reduce the stroke risk. Additional studies are required from a variety of populations, assessing duration and different types of tea consumption on subtypes of stroke to provide further evidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Green tea is a safe and cheap beverage. Its consumption should be encouraged because it could potentially serve as a practical method for stroke prevention.
Fraser
Michelle L
ML
School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
Mok
Gladys S
GS
Lee
Andy H
AH
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013662:Tea
D005419:Flavonoids; D013662:Tea