Tea Compound Moderates Diabetes Mechanisms

A growing body of evidence suggests that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant compound found in high concentrations in teas, may confer a wide range of health benefits through its anti-inflammatory capacity.  In that some studies suggest a link between green tea consumption and type-2 diabetes risk, Chi-Hao Wu, from National Chung-Hsing University (Taiwan), and colleagues studied the effects of EGCG on the underlying biological mechanisms involved in diabetes. Utilizing a lab model that mimicked diabetes, the researchers found that  EGCG not only increased low density lipoprotein (LDL) resistance to oxidation, but attenuated the glycation process as well. The team concludes that: “This study suggests that loading plasma with EGCG is an efficient way to increase the content of this phytochemical in LDL, which may imply favourable in vivo activity of EGCG in diabetes.”