Green tea minimally affects biomarkers of inflammation in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has shown to exert cardioprotective benefits in observational studies. The objective of this clinical trial was to assess the effects of green tea on features of metabolic syndrome and inflammation in obese subjects.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome. Thirty-five subjects [(mean ± SE) age 42.5 ± 1.7 y, body mass index 36.1 ± 1.3 kg/m(2)] completed the 8-wk study and were randomly assigned to receive green tea (4 cups/d), green tea extract (2 capsules and 4 cups water/d), or no treatment (4 cups water/d). Both the beverage and extract groups had similar dosing of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, the active green tea polyphenol. Fasting blood samples were collected at screening, 4 and 8 wk of the study.


RESULTS
Green tea beverage or extract supplementation did not significantly alter features of metabolic syndrome or biomarkers of inflammation including adiponectin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, leptin, or leptin:adiponectin ratio. However, both green tea beverage and extracts significantly reduced plasma serum amyloid alpha versus no treatment (P < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the daily consumption of green tea beverage or extracts for 8 wk was well tolerated but did not affect the features of metabolic syndrome. However, green tea significantly reduced plasma serum amyloid alpha, an independent cardiovascular disease risk factor, in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.
Basu
Arpita
A
Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. arpita.basu@okstate.edu
Du
Mei
M
Sanchez
Karah
K
Leyva
Misti J
MJ
Betts
Nancy M
NM
Blevins
Steve
S
Wu
Mingyuan
M
Aston
Christopher E
CE
Lyons
Timothy J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002392:Catechin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate