The principle feature of Type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar that has been shown to express higher levels of inflammatory markers. Other disorders that occur with Type 2 diabetes over time include severe damage to the eye, nervous system, and kidney. The damage to these organs and body systems have largely been attributed to the result of excessive inflammation and oxidative stress (i.e. free radicals) throughout the body.
Tea, a drink made from the plant Camellia sinensis, is reported to be rich in a variety of antioxidants. The process of harvesting and processing Camellia sinensis can produce either Black Tea, Green Tea, White Tea, and Oolong Tea. The present study was a preliminary evaluation to determine if tea can alter changes in metabolic function and immune activity (i.e. excess inflammation) with tea and was published in Phytotherapy Research.
This study was performed at Mubarak Hospital and Dasman Diabetes Center in Kuwait enrolling 18 male and 16 female type 2 diabetics. The preparation of tea was one tea bag (2.5 g) of dry black tea that was sold in each box purchased for the study. The tea bag was infused with 200 mL (about 7 ounces) of water brought to a boil, then steeped for 3 minutes. The phytochemicals in the tea used for the study were analyzed and determined to most closely resemble Lipton® Black Tea.
During the study human subjects either drank 200 mL (about 7 ounces) or 600 mL (about 21 ounces) of tea per day for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c was observed. Hemoglobin A1c is the amount of sugar that is on red blood cells and is often an indicator of how well blood sugar levels were controlled over the last 4 months. Similar benefits were seen in increasing the amount of T-regulatory cells in the three cups of tea per day
This reduction in hemoglobin A1c suggests a possible stabilization of blood sugar with the consumption of black tea. Also, the changes in regulatory T cells suggest a possible benefit related to the immune system which may have a positive impact on inflammation. This is important because often blood sugars are in excess leading to excess inflammation excess inflammation throughout the whole body. These results suggest a possible benefit in daily tea consumption in people with type 2 diabetes.
Take away message: A few points of interest are that the consumption of tea could provide antioxidants and serve as an alternative to high sugar drinks. Black Tea depending on how it is prepared can contain 150 milligrams of antioxidants with eat cup (i.e. tea bag). So if three cups of tea are consumed throughout the day about 450 mg of antioxidants are consumed daily. Evidence from this clinical trial suggests black tea consumed every day for 12 weeks leads to reductions in hemoglobin A1c, increases in regulatory T cells, and reductions in harmful inflammatory markers. Also, I contacted the authors to determine if milk and sugar were allowed to be added to the tea during the study were not described in the scientific article. Dr. Fadia Mahmoud who led the study informed me that participants were allowed to use non-sugar sweeteners and skim milk. When considering non-sugar sweeteners stevia is a natural option to artificial sweeteners.
Phytotherapy Research. 2016 March; Volume 30 (Issue 3): pages 380-5.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Clinical Trials, Inflammation
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