Green Tea Benefits Endothelial Function

ATHENS, Greece—According to a recent study, green tea consumption in healthy individuals had an acute beneficial effect on endothelial function (Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2008;15(3):300-05). Healthy adults (n=14) with no cardiovascular risk factors except from smoking (50 percent), were studied on three separate occasions on which they took: (a) 6 g of green tea, (b) 125 mg of caffeine (the amount contained in 6 g of tea), or (c) hot water. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured before each intervention and 30, 90 and 120 minutes afterward. Resting and hyperemic brachial artery diameter did not change either with tea or with caffeine. FMD increased significantly with tea (P<0.02), whereas it did not change significantly with caffeine (P=NS). Neither tea nor caffeine had any effect on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), Il-6, Il-1b, total plasma antioxidative capacity, or total plasma oxidative status/stress.