title: The effect of black tea on risk factors of cardiovascular disease in a normal population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial determined the effect of Mauritian black tea consumption on fasting blood plasma levels of glucose, lipid profiles and antioxidant status in a normal population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group (71%) consumed 3 x 200 ml of black tea infusate/day for 12 weeks without additives followed by a 3 week wash-out. The control group (29%) consumed equivalent volume of hot water for same intervention period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tea used had high levels of gallic acid derivatives (50 ± 0.4 mg/L), flavan-3-ols (42 ± 2 mg/L), flavonols (32 ± 1 mg/L) and theaflavins (90 ± 1 mg/L). Daily 9 g supplementation of black tea infusate induced, in a normal population, a highly significant decrease of fasting serum glucose (18.4%; p<0.001) and triglyceride levels (35.8%; p<0.01), a significant decrease in LDL/HDL plasma cholesterol ratio (16.6%; p<0.05) and a non significant increase in HDL plasma cholesterol levels (20.3%), while a highly significant rise in plasma antioxidant propensity (FRAP: 418%; p<0.001) was noted .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black tea consumed within a normal diet contributes to a decrease of independent cardiovascular risk factors and improves the overall antioxidant status in humans.
authors.affiliation: ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, CBBR Building, MSIRI, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius. tbahorun@uom.ac.mu
authors.forename: Theeshan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bahorun
authors.forename: Amitabye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luximon-Ramma
authors.forename: Vidushi S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Neergheen-Bhujun
authors.forename: Teeluck Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Gunness
authors.forename: Kreshna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Googoolye
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crozier
authors.forename: Okezie I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Aruoma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D013662:Tea; D014280:Triglycerides