WASHINGTON:
A daily cup of green tea can help in preventing heart diseases, a new study
suggests.
The study led by
Athens Medical School in Greece has found that drinking green tea can swiftly
improve the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system.
Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis.
Lead researcher Dr Nikolaos
Alexopoulos conducted randomised trial involving the diameter measurement
(dilatation) of the brachial artery of healthy volunteers on three separate
occasions - after taking green tea, caffeine, and hot water (for a placebo
effect).
The measurements were
taken at 30, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption.
Dilatation of the brachial
artery, due to increased blood flow is an independent indicator of
cardiovascular risk.
The
findings revealed that endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilatation
increased significantly after drinking green tea, with a peak increase of 3.9
per cent 30 minutes after consumption. The effect of caffeine consumption (or
hot water) was not significant. This shows that green tea has short-term
beneficial effect on the large arteries.
"These findings have important
clinical implications," said Dr Vlachopoulos.
"Tea consumption has been
associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in several
studies. Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it
could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve endothelial
function," Vlachopoulos added.
Green tea originated in China
and is now consumed throughout the world. It is made with pure leaves, and has
undergone little oxidisation during processing.
The new study is reported in
the latest issue of European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and
Rehabilitation.