- Black tea linked to a reduced risk of Ovarian Cancer | 07 May 2008 | Read
- Black tea could lower risk of Parkinson's disease | 14 Mar 2008 | Read
- Women tea-drinkers have less plaque in their arteries | 14 Mar 2008 | Read
- The Tea Advisory Panel comments on latest diabetes findings and the link to tea | 04 Mar 2008 | Read
- Clinical proof of the invigorating benefits of tea | 13 Feb 2008 | Read
Black tea linked to a reduced risk of Ovarian Cancer - 07 May 2008
According to latest research from America1, black tea has been found to reduce the possible risk of ovarian cancer. The study which was carried out with 414 subjects, found that women drinking two or more cups of black tea a day, had a 30% reduction in risk of ovarian cancer.
Commenting on this latest research, Dr Catherine Hood from the Tea Advisory Panel notes: "This latest research data from America is great news for all tea drinkers. The findings are also supported by a Swedish study, where data has demonstrated that black tea could have a protective effect in ovarian cancer2.
Dr Hood adds: "This Swedish study, which involved over 61,000 women, found that women who drank two or more cups of tea a day had a 46% reduced risk of ovarian cancer compared with women who never or seldom drank tea.
"Each additional cup of tea was associated with an 18% lower risk of ovarian cancer, indicating that tea consumption may be associated with reduced risk of ovarian cancer in a dose-dependent manner."
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The Tea Advisory Panel:
The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK TEA COUNCIL, the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. For further information please call 0207 8089756.
Note to editors:
For further information please contact:
Nicky Smith on 0207 0528850
Eva Levin on 0207 0528853
Louise Nathanson on 0207 0528856
References:
1. Baker JA, Boakye K, McCann SE, Beehler GP, Rodabaugh KJ, Villella JA, et al. Consumption of black tea or coffee and risk of ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2007;17(1):50-4.
2. Larsson SC, Wolk A. Tea consumption and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based cohort. Arch Intern Med 2005;165(22):2683-6.
Black tea could lower risk of Parkinson's disease - 14 Mar 2008
Drinking black tea regularly could reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, concluded a study1.
Commenting on the study, Dr Ann Walker, a member of The Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) notes: "This was a large, prospective study, involving 63,257 Chinese men and women, aged 45 to 74, living in Singapore. Those who drank more than 23 cups of black tea each month were 71per cent less likely to contract the disease. As a result, this latest research study is great news for all UK ‘black tea’ drinkers. In the past there seems to have been more of a focus by scientists reviewing the health benefits of green tea."
"In the UK, one in 500 people, i.e., around 120,000 individuals have Parkinson's. About 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed each year2."
Three case-control studies in the US3, Hong Kong4 and Singapore5 and a cohort study of male health professionals in the US6 have reported an inverse association between tea drinking and Parkinson's disease risk, but differences in benefit between black tea and green tea were not investigated in these studies."
Dr Walker continues: "The authors of these previous four studies attributed the protective effect of tea, at least in part, to its caffeine content. In the current study, however, the beneficial effect of black tea did not appear to be influenced by caffeine intake, indicating that ingredients other than caffeine are responsible for black tea's protective effects.
"A key difference between black tea and green tea lies in the types and amounts of flavonoids. Green teas contain more of the simple flavonoids called catechins. But when black tea is made, the catechins undergo oxidation resulting in the generation of more complex varieties, called thearubigins and theaflavins."
In conclusion Dr Walker notes: "The underlying mechanisms for this protective effect of black tea on Parkinson's disease remains unclear until further research is done. But drinking even one cup of black tea per day could help to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease."
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The Tea Advisory Panel:
The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK TEA COUNCIL, the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. For further information please call 0207 8089756.
Note to editors:
For further information please contact:
Nicky Smith on 0207 808 9750
Caroline Lynch on 0207 808 9752
References:
1. Tan LC, Koh WP, Yuan JM, Wang R, Au WL, Tan JH, et al. Differential Effects of Black versus Green Tea on Risk of Parkinson's Disease in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 2007.
2. Parkinson's Disease Society. www.parkinsons.org.uk.
3. Checkoway H, Powers K, Smith-Weller T, Franklin GM, Longstreth WT, Jr., Swanson PD. Parkinson's disease risks associated with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and caffeine intake. Am J Epidemiol 2002;155(8):732-8.
4. Chan DK, Woo J, Ho SC, Pang CP, Law LK, Ng PW, et al. Genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;65(5):781-4.
5. Tan EK, Tan C, Fook-Chong SM, Lum SY, Chai A, Chung H, et al. Dose-dependent protective effect of coffee, tea, and smoking in Parkinson's disease: a study in ethnic Chinese. J Neurol Sci 2003;216(1):163-7.
6. Ascherio A, Zhang SM, Hernan MA, Kawachi I, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, et al. Prospective study of caffeine consumption and risk of Parkinson's disease in men and women. Ann Neurol 2001;50(1):56-63.
Women tea-drinkers have less plaque in their arteries - 14 Mar 2008
Women who drink tea may be protecting themselves from building up plaque1 in their arteries, so reducing their risk for heart disease and stroke, according to the results of a study conducted in Paris2.
Commenting on the study, Dr Catherine Hood from the TEA ADVISORY PANEL (TAP) notes: "This research study found that older women who reported drinking at least three cups of tea a day were less likely to have plaque in the carotid arteries in their neck than those drinking less tea. The build up of plaque in the arteries contributes to atherosclerosis, which is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
"This was a large study involving 2,613 men and 3,984 women, aged about 73 years old. Their carotid artery plaque was measured by ultrasound and assessed in relation to tea drinking and other dietary habits and medical and personal history, information about which was obtained during individual interviews with the study subjects.
"Carotid plaques were evident in 45% of non-tea drinking women, in 42.5% of women who reported drinking 1-2 cups of tea daily and in only 33.7% of those reporting drinking three or more cups a day. Findings in dietary studies are often confounded by other factors such as presence of disease in the subjects and other lifestyle behaviours. However, in this study, findings did not depend on whether the women were smoking or not, whether or not they took hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and whether or not they suffered from vascular disease.
"The same inverse association between drinking three or more cups of tea a day and carotid plaque was found in women aged more or less than 75 years, with a body mass index of less or more than 27, with or without hypertension. No significant interaction was found with level of education or fruit and vegetable intake. In short, the association between increased tea consumption and reduced carotid plaque was independent of dietary and lifestyle habits, age and major cardiovascular risk factors."
Guest advisor to TAP, Dr Sanjay Prasad from the heart and stroke charity CORDA 4 notes in conclusion: "Several studies suggest that increased tea consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and vascular event3. However, according to the researchers of this study, it is the first to show that increased tea consumption is associated with reduced carotid plaque, so suggesting a protective effect of drinking three or more cups a day on carotid atherosclerosis. Further work is required to validate these findings."
The Tea Advisory Panel:
The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK TEA COUNCIL, the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. For further information please call 0207 8089756.
Note to editors:
For further information please contact:
Eva Levin 0207 808 9751
Nicky Smith 020 7808 9750
Caroline Lynch 020 7808 9752
1. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis
2. Debette et al. Tea consumption is inversely associated with carotid plaques in women. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2008;28:353-9
3. Mukamal M et al. Tea consumption and mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2002;105:2476-2481; Yockum L et al. Dietary flavonoid intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Am J Epidemiol 1999;149:943-9
4. CORDA was founded in 1976 to support clinical research into the prevention of heart disease and stroke using non-surgical methods. They have provided vital funding for the development of ultrasound and other non-invasive techniques used by the researchers at the Institute of Child Health to evaluate cardiovascular disease in the young. In fact, CORDA funded the world’s first cardiovascular magnetic resonance scanner at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) does not involve harmful X-rays. It provides the most powerful pictures of the body without surgery. As a result CORDA has enabled major medical advances in the understanding of the causes and development of heart disease and stroke. To find out more about CORDA log on to www.corda.org.uk.
The Tea Advisory Panel comments on latest diabetes findings and the link to tea - 04 Mar 2008
In response to a research paper just published in the Journal of Aging Cell which reviews the possible link of black tea and its compounds towards the prevention of Diabetes, the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) would like to make the following comment:
Dr Ann Walker from the Tea Advisory Panel notes: "Antidiabetic properties of tea have been shown earlier in laboratory studies, but this is the first time that a research group has concentrated on the unique compounds in black tea. As a result, this latest study finding is great news and it clearly demonstrates that the compounds in black tea have insulin-like actions in the cell. This research news is very exciting and the next step would be to find out whether people who drink large quantities of tea are at lower risk of diabetes. If we could find such an association then it would be worth setting up a clinical trial."
The Tea Advisory Panel:
The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK TEA COUNCIL, the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. For further information please call 0207 8089756.
Note to editors:
For further information please contact:
Nicky Smith 020 7808 9750
Caroline Lynch 020 7808 9752
Clinical proof of the invigorating benefits of tea - 13 Feb 2008
A new research study has shown that tea really can be a pick-me-up - with the caffeine consumed by typical British tea-drinkers benefiting both mind and body without causing health concerns.
The study, published in the March issue of the British Nutrition Foundation’s Nutrition Bulletin, shows that the caffeine obtained from the equivalent of one to eight cups of tea per day offers a wide range of benefits. These include improved alertness, short-term recall and reaction time, better mood and reduced levels of fatigue.
In addition, the benefits of consuming modest amounts of caffeine, such as those present in tea, begin with the first cup of the day.
The study analysed 41 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on caffeine consumption published over the past 15 years.
Author Dr Carrie Ruxton, an independent nutritionist, says; 'this study provides further evidence that moderate caffeine sources, such as tea, offer cognitive and performance-related benefits'.
Caffeine is believed to impact on mood and performance by acting on neurotransmitters in the brain.
'Most of the studies supported the idea that taking in modest levels of caffeine everyday makes us more alert, boosts short-term memory and improves reaction time, says Dr Ruxton. ‘There were also consistent findings that caffeine consumption is linked to a positive mood and less feelings of fatigue.'
The level of caffeine intake at which cognitive effects were generated was fairly low - one study showed a beneficial effect from the equivalent of just one-third of a cup of tea.
Dr Catherine Hood from the Tea Advisory Panel comments: 'This is great news for tea drinkers. We already know that tea contains powerful antioxidants, but this study also shows ongoing cognitive benefits from regular levels of tea consumption.'
The research also concluded that caffeine consumption enhances physical performance. One meta-analysis found that caffeine improved exercise test performance by 12 per cent, with the greatest effects seen for endurance exercise. A second analysis concluded that the lower ratings of perceived exhaustion relating to caffeine ingestion accounted for 30 per cent of the improvement in exercise performance.
The impact of caffeine on ratings of perceived exhaustion could partly explain its performance-improvement effects. Habitual intake of caffeine does not appear to diminish performance.
In summary, Dr Ruxton notes: 'There is no evidence that low to moderate intakes of caffeine, even when consumed around extreme exercise, have a negative effect on hydration.'
'The range of caffeine intake that could maximise benefit in relation to mood, cognitive function, performance and hydration would equate to between 1 and 8 cups of tea per day, and any risk of dehydration from this level of intake would be minimal,' concludes Dr Ruxton.
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The Tea Advisory Panel:
The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK TEA COUNCIL, the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. For further information please call 0207 8089756.
Note to editors:
For further information please contact:
Nicky Smith 020 7808 9750
- Pregnant women are advised to limit caffeine consumption to 300mg per day (equivalent to six cups of tea). There are no official limits on caffeine consumption in non-pregnant consumers.
