This article contains findings obtained from research on animals:
- The results from animal research studies should not be directly applied to humans and the results may not generalise to the human population.
- There may be significant differences between species in terms of physiology, physiology, and pharmacology, as well as differences in the way diseases and treatments are modelled in animals.
- Any conclusions drawn from animal research should be considered with caution and in the context of other types of research studies such as observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews of the literature.
Insights & Discussion
Pu-erh tea has a significant anti-hyperglycaemic effect, with its efficacy increasing over time and with higher dosages.
The research team systematically searched five English databases and three Chinese ones up to July 31, 2018 for studies related to the term 'Pu-erh' and the concepts of 'blood sugar', 'blood glucose', and 'hyperglycaemia'. The team used the software RevMan 5 and Stata to carry out a meta-analysis, which ultimately included two studies on mice, with sixteen records total.
The results from the meta-analysis reveal that Pu-erh tea has a strong anti-hyperglycaemic effect on mice. More noteworthy were the observations that, over longer periods of intervention, the tea can reduce fasting blood glucose levels. Additionally, a higher dose of Pu-erh tea was found to lower fasting blood glucose significantly more, suggesting dosage is crucial for achieving the best outcome.
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Healthy mice were administered water or 0.25% Pu-erh tea over a period of seven weeks, and then subjected to a disruption of their light/dark cycle for forty days. The assessment of effects was based on changes in neurotransmitter secretion and gene oscillations, intestinal inflammation, and the balance of intestinal microbes and metabolites.
Results indicated that Pu-erh tea had beneficial impacts in regulating neurotransmitter secretion and clock gene oscillations, especially indole and 5-hydroxytryptamine pathways, a key process involving the gut-liver-brain axis. Moreover, the tea's metabolites improved release of brain hormones, thus enhancing hepatic glycolipid metabolism and lowering intestinal oxidative stress. Further observed beneficial effects included promotion of liver lipid metabolism and reduction of intestinal inflammation, via the enterohepatic circulation.
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