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Green Tea Delays Strokes in Stroke-Prone Rats
Study description: To test the effects of
green tea extract on the development of strokes, Japanese researchers used rats
that were specially bred to develop severe hypertension and spontaneous stroke
at early ages, with an average lifespan of about 100 days.
Type of study: Animal
Study Methods: The rats were divided into
two groups: One group was given water containing 0.5% green tea catechin extract
beginning at 5 weeks of age, while the control group received plain water.
What happened: The average age at which a
stroke occurred in the control group rats was 79 days of age. However strokes in
the green tea group were delayed 10 days, occurring at an average of 89 days of
age.
Although this may not sound like much, 10 days equals 10% of the lifespan for
these rats. The green tea group also showed significantly lower increases in
blood pressure in the later stages of life than the control group.
Researchers' conclusion:
"Continuous ingestion of green tea catechins from an early age prevented the
development of spontaneous stroke in M-SHRSP, probably by inhibiting the further
development of high blood pressure at later ages."
Citation: Ikeda M, Suzuki
C, Umegaki K, et al. Preventive effects of green tea catechins on spontaneous
stroke in rats. Med Sci Monit 2007;13(2):BR40-45. (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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