Green tea is thought to be an herbal panacea of sorts, believed by many to have a wide range of health benefits. But whether it can actually produce measurable effects on cholesterol is a question that has drawn much debate.
Advocates say green tea's heart-healthy benefits are due in part to a large concentration of polyphenols, which block the absorption of cholesterol in the gut. But skeptics argue that any beneficial effect would be small, and the side effects from a few too many cups a day not worth it.
Numerous studies have delved into the matter, with mixed results. But this year a team of researchers combined and analyzed data from more than a dozen previous trials to reach a more definitive answer. The report, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, involved more than 1,100 people and looked at studies in which the subjects were randomly assigned to drink either green tea or a placebo daily for up to several months.
The researchers found that the subjects who received the green tea, on average, did see an effect on their cholesterol, but it was minimal. Over all, their levels of LDL, or ''bad'' cholesterol, fell by 2.2 milligrams per deciliter, a change of roughly 2 percent. There was no effect on their levels of HDL, or ''good'' cholesterol.
For some it may be worth a shot. But for others there could be side effects: A compound in green tea called EGCG may interfere with medications like anticoagulants and the cancer drug bortezomib.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Studies have found that green tea may reduce levels of LDL cholesterol, but the effect appears minimal.
This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.
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