Green Tea Consumption and Serum Malondialdehyde-Modified LDL Concentrations in Healthy Subjects

Objective: Green tea was shown to inhibit LDL oxidation, platelet aggregation, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activities in vitro. We tried to elucidate whether or not green tea consumption may have these effects in vivo, which may be protective against atherosclerotic disease.

Methods: We measured serum malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) concentrations and urine 8-epi-prostaglandin (PG) F_2α in 22 healthy male nonsmokers. They drank 7 cups/day of water for 2 weeks and drank 7 cups/day of green tea for the next 2 weeks. Regarding platelet aggregation, plasma thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and 6-keto-PGF_1α concentrations and ex vivo platelet aggregation were evaluated. Plasma MMP-2 and -9 concentrations were also measured.

Results: Of the 22 subjects, 20 had been in the habit of drinking green tea before the study. Plasma catechins concentrations significantly decreased at the end of the water period and then increased at the end of the green tea period. Although no change in plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations (110 ± 33 vs. 113 ± 28 mg/dL, p = NS) was found, MDA-LDL concentrations (84 ± 45 vs. 76 ± 40 IU/L, p < 0.05) and the ratio of MDA-LDL/LDL-cholesterol (0.74 ± 0.21 vs. 0.65 ± 0.20, p < 0.02) significantly decreased at the end of the green tea period. However, no significant changes were observed in urine 8-epi-PGF_2α concentrations, in platelet aggregation, nor in plasma TXB₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α or MMP concentrations.

Conclusion: Daily consumption of green tea decreased serum MDA-LDL concentrations, but it had no significant effects on platelet aggregation, platelet TX production or plasma MMPs concentrations. Our results suggest that green tea consumption may inhibit LDL oxidation in vivo.