title: Fuzhuan tea reverses arterial stiffening after modest weight gain in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a Western diet (WD) and supplementation with Fuzhuan tea on large artery stiffness, as determined by aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were subjected to a standard diet (SD; n = 12) or WD (n = 10) for 7 mo, and were then separated to receive nonsupplemented drinking water (SD-W and WD-W) or water supplemented with Fuzhuan tea (SD-T and WD-T) (200 mg/kg daily); mice were then maintained on their respective diets for an additional 2 mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the initial 7-mo feeding period, WD elicited a modest and significantly greater increase in body weight than did SD (39.6 ± 0.71 versus 34.5 ± 1.16 g; P < 0.01). PWV was significantly elevated in WD but not in SD (459.3 ± 4.8 versus 422.4 ± 6.4 cm/s; P < 0.001). Following an additional 2 mo, PWV continued to increase in WD-W, but returned to control levels in WD-T (WD-W: 519.8 ± 12.8; WD-T: 426.5 ± 18.6; SD-W: 429.7 ± 8.6; SD-T: 429.1 ± 6.1 cm/s; P < 0.001, WD-W versus all groups). The increase in PWV in WD-W was accompanied by an increase in aortic collagen (WD-W: 38.8 ± 4.6 versus SD-W: 17.5 ± 5.1 percent cross-sectional area; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that the increase in arterial stiffness after modest, diet-induced weight gain can be reversed by supplementation with Fuzhuan tea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Dustin M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Micah L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Battson
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Dillon K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jarrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cox-York
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Michelle T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Electronic address: Christopher.gentile@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gentile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D066273:Diet, Western / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005285:Fermentation; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Endothelial function; Fuzhuan tea; Obesity; Pulse wave velocity; Tea; Weight gain