Beneficial effects of green tea: A literature review

Chacko, S.M., Thambi, P.T., Kuttan, R. et al. · Chinese Medicine · 2010 April 6

Objective

Promoting health effects of green tea

Conclusions

This intensive systematic review showcased that green tea to treat metabolic syndrome for diabetes, contains drug metabolizing enzymes, increased absorption of irons and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine. However, it also highlights the long term consumptions of green tea with its elevated caffeine levels.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal

Insights

Long-term consumption of tea catechins could be beneficial against high-fat diet-induced obesity and type II diabetes and could reduce the risk of coronary disease.

Laboratory studies showed the health effects of green tea. As the human clinical evidence is still limited, future research needs to define the actual magnitude of health benefits, establishes the safe range of tea consumption associated with these benefits, and elucidates the mechanisms of action. Development of more specific and sensitive methods with more representative models along with the development of good predictive biomarkers will give a better understanding of how green tea interacts with endogenous systems and other exogenous factors. Definitive conclusions concerning the protective effect of green tea have to come from well-designed observational epidemiological studies and intervention trials. The development of biomarkers for green tea consumption, as well as molecular markers for its biological effects, will facilitate future research in this area.