title: Effects of a foot bath containing green tea polyphenols on interdigital tinea pedis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that green tea polyphenols (GTP) can directly kill Trichophyton in vitro; however, there are no published clinical studies that show anti-fungal activity of GTP.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the effects of GTP on interdigital tinea pedis in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four patients with interdigital tinea pedis were enrolled and were either given a lukewarm water foot bath containing GTP or placebo treatment. Effects of GTP were assessed based on changes in the size of the affected area, the rate of recurrence, microscopy findings, and overall assessment of skin changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks of treatment with either GTP or placebo, a significant reduction in the size of the affected area was observed (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the GTP or placebo groups in the size of the affected area (p=0.638), the recurrence rate (p=0.172), or the microscopy findings (p=1.000). However, the overall assessment demonstrated significant improvements (p=0.010) in the GTP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that GTP was effective in improving the symptoms of tinea pedis in comparison to only lukewarm water. Our results suggest that GTP could have anti-fungal activity.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Health Science, Graduate School of Health Care Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan; Chronic Disease Nursing Section, Department of Recuperation Nursing Care, Kobe City College of Nursing, 3-4 Nishi-ku, Gakuenn-Nishimachi, Kobe 651-2103, Japan. Electronic address: ikeda@tr.kobe-ccn.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Sugako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanoya
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D002392:Catechin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002392:Catechin
keywords: Elderly; Foot care; Green tea polyphenols; RCT; Tinea pedis