Study: Green Tea Extract May Lower Blood Pressure

A new study reports that twice-daily supplements of extracts from green tea (Camellia sinensis) was effective for decreasing blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, oxidative stress and a marker of chronic inflammation, in as quickly as three weeks.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study on 111 healthy adult volunteers 21- to 70-years-old was performed by researchers from the University of Florida, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and the Nutritional Science Research Institute, Boston, who reported their findings in Nutrition.

Researchers administered a standardized capsule of Camellia sinensis compounds (CSC) twice a day. Before and after three weeks, blood pressure, serum lipids, serum amyloid-α and serum malondialdehyde were measured.

Reductions of systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 5 and 4 mmHg, respectively, were observed following daily supplements of green tea extracts, while total cholesterol levels were reduced by 10 mg/dL.

Source: Beverage Daily