METABOLIC SYNDROME: IMPROVING WITH GREEN TEA AND WEIGHT REDUCTION

The metabolic syndrome is a complex of symptoms which include in the same individual: elevated waist circumference, elevated triglyceride levels, blood glycemia and blood pressure and reduced concentration of high-density cholesterol. It’s jumped to the news because at a vascular level it creates and maintains a chronic and silent inflammatory state which in the long leads to a net increase of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The fight against Metabolic Syndrome through a controlled diet, smoking cessation and changes in lifestyle is in place throughout the West because of the given  high incidence of diseases it causes.

In this context, the positive effects of green tea on decreased body weight and metabolic syndrome have been extensively documented in an extensive experimental case in which there has been a daily intake of four or more cups of tea or 600-900 mg of tea polyphenols.

On “Pharmacogical Research” 2011, it is reported a study in which mice are fed with a high-fat diet (60% of total calories) and treated with extracts of epigallocatechin for 16 weeks at a concentration of 3.6 grams per pound of food assumed ; mice had shown a significant reduction in weight of the fatty tissue, as well as the levels of blood sugar and insulin. All this had led to a greater sensitivity of the organs to insulin itself. This means that low concentrations of the hormone were sufficient to reduce the levels of glucose in the blood.

Tea catechins have been shown to reduce the infarction of the liver (fatty liver) and to protect rodents from ethanol toxicity and other toxic substances.

The metabolic effects on adipose tissue and the body weight of human being have been the subject of numerous studies, most of which has documented a decrease of weight and a slight loss of adipose tissue with a consumption of tea than four cups per day equal to 600-900 mg of polyphenols.

In a Chinese study randomized and placebo-controlled study published in “Obesity”, 2010, in groups of patients was administered for 90 days a beverage with increasing concentrations of catechins and caffeine 30 mg catechin + 10 mg caffeine (a low content drink ) up to 886 mg catechins + 198 mg caffeine per day (drink with a high content).

In the latter group of intensive treatment was observed a loss of 1.9 cm in waist circumference, a weight loss of 1.2 kg and a significant loss of intra-abdominal fat which led to the conclusion that these doses led to visible improvements in body composition.

A paper published in the “Journal American College Nutrition” in 2010, confirms that taking at least four cups of tea a day for eight weeks, due to a significant loss of weight (2 to 3 kg) compared with placebo, and a modest reduction of cholesterol contributes naturally to counter the effects of the metabolic syndrome in obese patients.

Also in the “Journal American College Nutrition” in 2005, it was studied the relationship of green tea against the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes) and it is concluded that the consumption of tea (3-6 cups a day ) is associated with a reduced risk of developing this disease.

THERMOGENESIS

For thermogenesis we are referring to a metabolic process that leads to the production of heat by the organism, especially in adipose tissue and muscle. In the field of the dietician and food supplements for thermogenic effect is meant the recruitment of products which tend, at rest, to stimulate or accelerate the metabolism increasing energy expenditure in the form of heat and preventing the storage of alimentary energy in the form of  fat. In other words, the dream is to lose weight by not doing either physical activity or submitting to a balanced diet.

It Is thus studied the thermogenic action of green tea, ie the ability to increase the metabolism and consequently the energy consumption even in conditions of rest. In the important study by Abdul Dulloo published in “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” in 1999, it is proven that the intake of tea increases energy expenditure in the 24 hours of 4%.

A very interesting result of this study is that the effects of green tea on the energy expenditure could not be explained only on the basis of its caffeine content, because the treatment with a dose equivalent to that of caffeine contained in tea, was not able to increase energy expenditure. The inference to be drawn is that the metabolic effects of tea are due to substances other than caffeine and typical of the plant. Furthermore it is seen that the tea causes a peculiar increase  of fat oxidation (consumption of fat deposits) whereas massive recruitment of caffeine equal to 1,000 mg / day have no significant effect on this parameter.

Last important consideration is that the stimulation of thermogenesis and fat oxidation with green tea is not accompanied by an increased heart rate typical of high doses of caffeine.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION

There are many human studies in taking tea against cardiovascular disease. The most convincing evidence to document a reduction in cardiovascular risk with tea consumption comes from large studies done in Japan. With the study published in “JAMA” in 2006, taking two cups to five cups a day was associated with a significant decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease.

In another Japanese study published in the “Journal Epidemiology Community Health” in 2011, consuming more than six cups of tea a day confirmed the reduction of mortality in tea drinkers.

A meta-analysis published in “American Journal Clinical Nutrition” in 2011, compared the effects of black tea against the green tea in regard to the prevention of the events of diseases of the coronary arteries of the heart. The results , very interesting , showed that consumption of green tea, but not black tea, was associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease by 10%.  No data were emerged that supported the protective role of black tea.

EFFECTS NEUROPROTECTIVE

recent researches and meta-analyzes have found that drinking tea can slightly reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease and epidemiological studies have suggested that drinking tea is associated with an improvement of cognitive function.

The theanine, an amino acid found in tea, can easily penetrate into the brain where it carries out a neuro protective. In addition, several studies show that this substance can improve memory and attention in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

The antioxidant action of tea polyphenols is certainly important in the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease and in the reduction of inflammation in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Many results were obtained with green tea and not with the black one as the polyphenols of the latter are practically not bioavailable, also not absorbed polyphenols exert their effect on the gastrointestinal tract by reducing the absorption of lipids and proteins and facilitating the growth of microbial strains useful to wellness.

It has been documented hepatotoxicity in consumers of dietary supplements containing high doses of green tea extracts used for weight loss.

Caution should be exercised and it is not uncommon that drunk on an empty stomach can create gastric irritation. In these cases the association with ginger can significantly reduce this problem.

The intake of four or five cups a day is associated with the protection against some chronic diseases with a very few side effects, which  undoubtedly led green tea to a fit and useful beverage to health.

Dott.Claudio Sandri

Translated by Ms Jeanne Marie Arcaini