|
Green Tea Associated With Lower Death Rates From Cardiovascular Disease and
All Causes
Participants: 40,530 adults aged 40 to 79
years, without a history of stroke, coronary heart disease or cancer at the
beginning of the study.
Where: Japan
Type of study: Prospective cohort
Study Methods: The Ohsaki National Health
Insurance Cohort Study began in 1994 when researchers assessed the volunteers'
green tea consumption. The volunteers lived in an area in northeastern Japan
where 80% of the population drinks green tea, with a majority taking in at least
3 cups a day.
The researchers tracked the volunteers for up to 11 years, measuring
mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality.
What happened: After 11 years, the
researchers found a 16 percent lower risk of death from all causes in
those who drank at least 5 daily cups of green tea, compared to those who drank
less than one cup. Women who drank 5 or more cups of green tea daily had a 31%
reduced risk of dying from CVD, while men who drank the same amount had a 22%
reduced risk of dying from CVD.
Green tea was especially protective against stroke in women, who were 42%
less likely to die of a stroke if they drank 5 cups of green tea per day
compared to those who drank less than one cup.
However, there was no association between green tea consumption and a lower
risk of cancer mortality.
Researchers' conclusion: "Green tea
consumption is associated with reduced mortality due to all causes and due to
cardiovascular disease but not with reduced mortality due to cancer."
Citation: Kuriyama S, Shimazu T, Ohmori
K, et al. Green tea consumption and mortality due to cardiovascular disease,
cancer, and all causes in Japan: the Ohsaki study. JAMA
2006;296(10):1255-65. (Click
here to read PubMed study abstract.)
|
Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com,
the most comprehensive collection of scientific information
describing the health benefits of green tea.
|
|
