Hidden Risks of Green Tea Extract

Recent research present that long-term excessive doses of inexperienced tea extract could present some safety towards most cancers, heart problems, weight problems, and kind 2 diabetes, though a minority of folks have liver harm. It may trigger incapacity.

WHO IS AT RISK?analysis from Rutgerswas revealed in Journal of Dietary Supplementsoffers the primary strong clue: two genetic variants that predict some of the danger.

“As there is increasing evidence that high doses of green tea extract can provide significant health benefits in those who can safely consume it, learning to predict who will suffer liver damage has potential. in Nutrition Sciences from Rutgers School of Health.

Using data from the Minnesota Green Tea Trial, a large-scale study of the effects of green tea on breast cancer, the researchers found that people with specific genetic mutations, after consuming 843 milligrams per day for a year, were less likely to experience other We investigated whether people were more likely to show signs of liver stress than a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major antioxidant found in green tea.

The researchers, led by then PhD student and now graduate Laura Acosta, selected two gene mutations of interest. This is because each controls the synthesis of enzymes that break down her EGCG. They chose the Minnesota Green Tea Trial because it was a large, well-designed study in a unique population. Data were collected for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

Analysis by the investigators showed one mutation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype and the uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 (UGT1A4) genotype.

On average, participants with the high-risk UGT1A4 genotype saw a nearly 80% rise in liver stress-indicating enzymes after taking green tea supplements for 9 months, compared to those with the low-risk genotype. participants saw a 30% increase in the same enzyme.

“We still have a long way to go before we can predict who can safely consume high doses of green tea extract,” he said. Differences alone cannot fully explain the differences in liver enzyme alterations among study participants: a complete explanation probably involves many different genetic variants and possibly many non-genetic factors.”

“Nevertheless, we believe we have taken a step towards identifying an important piece of the puzzle and predicting who can safely enjoy the health benefits high doses of green tea extract provide.”

Reference: “Hepatotoxicity from high-dose green tea extract: catechol-O-methyltransferase and uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 Genotypes,” Laura Acosta, Laura Byham-Gray, Mindy Kurzer, Hamed Samavat, 30 Sept. 2022, Available right here. Journal of Dietary Supplements.
DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2022.2128501