HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vlachopoulos, C. Articles by Stefanadis, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vlachopoulos, C. Articles by Stefanadis, C.

Acute Effect of Black and Green Tea on Aortic Stiffness and Wave Reflections

1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, (C.V., N.A., I.D., K.A., C.S.)
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens (I.A.), Athens, Greece

Address correspondence to: Charalambos Vlachopoulos, MD, Kerassoundos 17, Athens 11528, GREECE. E-mail: cvlachop{at}otenet.gr

Objective: While most studies have shown an inverse relation between tea consumption and cardiovascular risk, other studies have shown opposite results. Aortic stiffness and wave reflections are markers of cardiovascular disease and prognosticators of cardiovascular risk.

Methods: The acute effect of black and green tea on aortic stiffness and wave reflections was assessed in 29 healthy volunteers in a randomized, single-blind, sham-procedure controlled, cross-over design. In the black tea sub-study, 16 subjects received 6 gm of tea, caffeine (175 mg), or hot water in 3 different sessions. In the green tea sub-study, 13 subjects received 6 gm of tea, caffeine (125 mg), or hot water. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and wave reflection indices were measured at baseline and for 3 hours after consumption.

Results: Black tea increased pulse wave velocity during the first 90 min (increase by 0.49 m/sec, P < 0.05), showing a rapid return towards baseline values thereafter (P = 0.07 for the whole study period); in contrast, green tea had no effect. Both black and green tea increased augmentation index (by 5.0% and by 6.6%, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) throughout the study. These changes were less than the respective changes produced by caffeine. Both black and green tea had a significant pressor effect. No change in oxidant status was found with both types of tea.

Conclusions: Both black and green tea increases acutely wave reflections and only black tea increases aortic stiffness. Tea flavonoids may play a role in the attenuation of the effects of caffeine contained in tea.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Kuriyama The Relation between Green Tea Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease as Evidenced by Epidemiological Studies J. Nutr., August 1, 2008; 138(8): 1548S - 1553S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]