Tea Extracts Protect Against Radiation-Induced Skin
Damage
Background: Skin toxicity is a common
side effect of radiation for solid tumors and, besides damaged skin, it can lead
to gaps in cancer treatment while the skin heals. Researchers from UCLA and the
University of Freiburg, Germany wanted to find out if green and black tea
extracts, with their anti-inflammatory properties, could protect against skin
toxicity and reduce its duration.
Participants: 60
patients with cancer of the head and neck or pelvic region
Type of study: Prospective experimental
Study Methods: The volunteers were given
topical skin treatments of green or black tea extracts before their radiation
treatments.
What happened: The tea extracts, which in
“test tube” studies reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased
the duration of skin toxicity after radiation by 5-10 days in the cancer
patients. These effects were seen with both green and black tea extracts,
although green tea extract was more effective.
Researchers' conclusion: "Tea extracts
are an efficient, broadly available treatment option for patients suffering from
acute radiation-induced skin toxicity."
Citation: Pajonk F, Riedisser A, Henke M,
et al. The effects of tea extracts on proinflammatory signaling. BMC Med
2006;4:28. (Click here to read PubMed study
abstract.)
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com,
the most comprehensive collection of scientific information
describing the health benefits of green tea.
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