Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Randomized controlled trial for an effect of green tea-extract powder supplementation on glucose abnormalities

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 953–960 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

We examined whether green tea-extract powder supplementation improves glucose abnormality.

Methods:

The study was conducted for volunteers who resided in eastern communities of Shizuoka Prefecture and who had fasting blood glucose levels of ⩾6.1 mmol/l or nonfasting blood glucose levels of ⩾7.8 mmol/l in a recent health check-up. Sixty subjects aged 32–73 years (49 males and 11 females) participated in the trial. The Early intervention group consumed a packet of green tea-extract powder containing 544 mg polyphenols (456 mg catechins) daily for the first 2 months and then entered the 2-month nonintervention period. The Later intervention group was observed for the first 2 months and then consumed green tea-extract powder as described above for the subsequent 2 months. Using the two-period crossover design, we analyzed the changes in fasting hemoglobin A1c level and other biomarkers in blood samples collected at baseline, 2 months and 4 months.

Results:

A significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c level and a borderline significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure were associated with the intervention. The intervention caused no significant changes in weight, body mass index, body fat, systolic blood pressure, fasting serum glucose level, homeostasis model assessment index, serum lipid level or hypersensitive C-reactive protein.

Conclusion:

Daily supplementary intake of green tea-extract powder lowered the hemoglobin A1c level in individuals with borderline diabetes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amarowicz R, Pegg RB, Bautista DA (2000). Antibacterial activity of green tea polyphenols against Escherichia coli K 12. Nahrung 44, 60–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Astrup A, Toubro S, Cannon S, Hein P, Breum L, Madsen J (1990). Caffeine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr 51, 759–767.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group (2002). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med 346, 393–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreosti IE, Wargovich MJ, Yang CS (1997). Inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea: the evidence from experimental studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 37, 761–770.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erba D, Riso P, Bordoni A, Foti P, Biagi PL, Testolin G (2005). Effectiveness of moderate green tea consumption on antioxidative status and plasma lipid profile in humans. J Nutr Biochem 16, 144–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fukino Y, Aoki N, Kato Y, Watanbe T, Nakamura M, Tanimizu T (1999). Green tea consumption among the elderly, nutrition and health. J Health Welfare Stats 46, 10–17. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukino Y, Shimbo M, Aoki N, Okubo T, Iso H (2005). Randomized controlled trial for an effect of green tea consumption on insulin resistance and inflammation markers. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 51, 335–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hara Y, Honda M (1990). The inhibition of α-amylase by tea polyphenols. Agric Biol Chem 54, 1939–1945.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hara Y, Matsuyama S, Nakamura K (1989). Anti-tumor activity of tea catechins. Nippon Eiyou Shokuryou Gakkaishi (J Jpn Soc Nutr Food Sci) 42, 39–45. (in Japanese).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hase T, Komine Y, Meguro S, Takeda Y, Takahashi H, Matusi Y et al. (2001). Anti-obesity effects of tea catechins in humans. J Oleo Sci 50, 599–605.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honda M, Hara Y (1993). Inhibition of rat small intestinal sucrase and á-glucosidase activities by tea polyphenols. Biotech Biochem 57, 123–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imai K, Nakachi K (1995). Cross sectional study of effects of drinking green tea on cardiovascular and liver diseases. BMJ 310, 693–696.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imai K, Suga K, Nakachi K (1997). Cancer-preventive effects of drinking green tea among a Japanese population. Prev Med 26, 769–775.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isemura M, Suzuki Y, Satoh K, Narumi K, Motomiya M (1993). Effects of catechins on the mouse lung carcinoma cell adhesion to the endothelial cells. Cell Biol Int 17, 559–564.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iso H, Date C, Wakai K, Fukui M, Tamakoshi A, T he JACC Study Group (2006). Green tea reduces diabetes risk. Ann Intern Med 144, 554–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ito T, Sasaki R (1995). Green tea and cancer prevention. Mod Med Sci 42, 567–574. (in Japanese).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwase K, Ota I, Torii H (1970). Improvement of official chemical analysis for tea (Part 3). Tea industry technical research. Chagyo Gijutsu Kenkyu 40, 69–73. (in Japanese).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Japan Diabetes Society ed. (2002). Guidelines of Treatment for Diabetes 2002–2003. Bunkodo: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

  • Kajimoto O, Kajimoto Y, Yabune M, Nakamura T, Kotani K, Suzuki Y et al. (2005). Tea catechins with a galloyl moiety reduce body weight and fat. J Health Sci 51, 161–171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kashiwabara H, Inaba M, Maruno Y, Morita T, Awata T, Negishi K et al. (2000). Insulin levels during fasting and the glucose tolerance test and Homa's index predict subsequent development of hypertension. J Hypertens 18, 83–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kawase M, Wang R, Shiomi T, Saijo R, Yagi K (2000). Antioxidative activity of (-)-epigallocatechin-3- (3″-O-methyl) gallate isolated from fresh tea leaf and preliminary results on its biological activity. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 64, 2218–2220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenko Eiyo Joho Kenkyukai (2005). The national health and nutrition survery in Japan. 2003. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. Daiichi Shuppan: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

  • Kojima S, Takakuwa K (1987). In: Komathi Y (ed.). Nutirition Survey on Relation of Nutrition and Living Environment in Japanese. Hokendojin-sha: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabe K, Yamada M, Oguni I, Takahashi T (1999). In vitro and in vivo activities of tea catechins against Helicobacter pylori. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 43, 1788–1791.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto N, Ishigaki F, Ishigaki A, Iwashina H, Hara Y (1993). Reduction of blood glucose levels by tea catechin. Biosci Biotech Biochem 57, 525–527.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mclaughlin T, Abbasi F, Cheal K, Chu J, Lamendolla C, Reaven G (2003). Use of metabolic markers to identify overweight individuals who are insulin resistant. Ann Intern Med 139, 802–809.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeely MJ, Boyko EJ, Leonetti DL, Kahn SE, Fujimoto WY (2003). Comparison of a clinical model, the oral glucose tolerance test, and fasting glucose for prediction of type 2 diabetes risk in Japanese Americans. Diabetes Care 26, 758–763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (2004). The national survey for diabetes. Version current 1 June 2004. Internet:http://www.mhlw.go.jp/shingi/2004/03/s0318-15.html(accessed 15 January 2006) (in Japanese).

  • Miura Y, Chiba T, Miura S, Tomita I, Umegaki K, Ikeda M et al. (2000). Green tea polyphenols (flavan 3-ols) prevent oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins: an ex vivo study in humans. J Nutr Biochem 11, 216–222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muramatsu K (1994) ed. Science of Tea. Asakura Pres: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Muramatsu K, Fukuyo M, Hara Y (1986). Effect of green tea catechins on plasma cholesterol level in cholesterol-fed rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 32, 613–622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagao T, Meguro S, Soga S, Otsuka A, Tomonobu K, Fumoto S et al. (2001). Tea catechins suppress accumulation of body fat in humans. J Oleo Sci 50, 717–728.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nara N (2005). Clinical Tests Handbook for Nurses and Dietitians 3rd ed. Ishiyaku Publishers: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmura T, Ueda K, Kiyohara Y, Kato I, Iwamoto H, Nakayama K et al. (1993). Prevalence of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in the Japanese general population: the Hisayama Study. Diabetologia 36, 1198–1203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Princen HM, van Duyvenvoorde W, Buytenhek R, Blonk C, Tijburg LB, Langius JA et al. (1998). No effect of consumption of green and black tea on plasma lipid and antioxidant levels and on LDL oxidation in smokers. Thromb Vasc Biol 18, 833–841.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rice-Evans C, Leake D, Bruckdorfer KR, Diplock AT (1996). Practical approaches to low density lipoprotein oxidation: whys, wherefores and pitfalls. Free Rad Res 25, 285–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richarda A, Dolansky MM (2002). Tea enhances insulin activity. J Agric Food Chem 50, 7182–7186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryu OH, Lee J, Lee KW, Kim HY, Seo JA, Kim SG et al. (2006). Effects of green tea consumption on inflammation, insulin resistance and pulse wave velocity in type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 71, 356–358.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakanaka S, Kim M, Taniguti M, Yamamoto T (1989). Antibacterial substances in Japan green tea extract against streptococcus mutants, a cariogenic bacterium. Agric Biol Chem 53, 2307–2311.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Science and Technology Agency (2002). Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan. The Fifth Revised Edition. Printing Bureau, Ministry of Finance 2000: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

  • Shimizu M (2002). Health science of tea – new possibility for physiological function. In: Muramatsu K, Oguni I, Isemura M et al. (eds). Gakkai Shupan Center: Tokyo, 187–192. (in Japanese).

  • Shimizu M, Wada S, Hayashi T, Arisawa M, Ikegaya K, Ogaku S et al. (1988). Studies on hypoglycemic constituents of Japanese tea. Yakugaku Zasshi 108, 964–970. (in Japanese).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spriet LL, MacLean DA, Dyck DJ, Hultman E, Cederblad G, Graham TE (1992). Caffeine ingestion and muscle metabolism during prolong exercise in humans. Am J Physiol 262, 891–898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suganuma M, Okabe S (1996). Cancer prevention by green tea. J Clin Exp Med 176, 760–761. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • The Japan Diabetes Society (2004). Evidence-based Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Diabetes in Japan. Nankodo: Tokyo. (in Japanese).

  • Tsuchida T, Itakura H, Nakamura H (2002). Reduction of body fat in humans by long-term ingestion of catechins. Prog Med 2189–2203. (in Japanese).

  • Tuomilehto J, Lindstrom J, Eriksson JG, Valle TT, Hamalainen H, Ilanne-Parikka P et al. (2001). Finnish diabetes prevention study group. Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. N Engl J Med 344, 1343–1350.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Unno T, Tago M, Suzuki Y, Nozawa A, Sagesaka YM, Kakuda T et al. (2005). Effect of tea catechins on postprandial plasma lipid responses in human subjects. Br J Nutr 93, 543–547.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walter-Law ME, Wang XL, Law BK et al. (2002). Epigallocatechin gallate, a constituent of green tea, represses hepatic glucose production. J Biol Chem 277, 34933–34940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yokozawa T, Cho EJ, Hara Y, Kitani K (2000). Antioxidative activity of green tea treated with radical initiator 2, 2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. J Agric Food Chem 48, 5068–5073.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Mamoru Isemura, Department of Food and Nutritional Science, University of Shizuoka for his valuable advice and cooperation in this study. In addition, we thank the Section of Health and Welfare, Fujikawa-cho, Shizuoka, officials of organizations and industries in the cities of Shizuoka, Shimizu and Yaizu, Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion and other institutions, and all the participants for their cooperation. This study was supported by the grant for 2002–2004 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (No. 14570348).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Japan

    Y Fukino & K Maruyama

  2. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan

    A Ikeda, K Maruyama & H Iso

  3. Department of Public Health, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan

    N Aoki

  4. Central Research Laboratories, Taiyou Kagaku Co. Ltd., Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan

    T Okubo

Authors
  1. Y Fukino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A Ikeda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K Maruyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N Aoki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T Okubo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. H Iso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y Fukino.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fukino, Y., Ikeda, A., Maruyama, K. et al. Randomized controlled trial for an effect of green tea-extract powder supplementation on glucose abnormalities. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 953–960 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602806

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602806

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links