Spring Break
Enzyme from tea could build cancer buffer
By: Jackson Crews
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: News
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The research shows that in some people, high doses of the green tea component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) increase the activity of a detoxification enzyme called glutathione S-transferase.
"This particular detoxification enzyme is responsible for getting rid of toxic chemicals - carcinogens," said Dr. Sherry Chow, research associate professor at the Cancer Center and principal investigator for the study.
Prior studies on animals have demonstrated green tea's detoxification properties, Chow said.
In the new study, 42 people were recruited and asked to refrain from consuming tea, she said.
After what Chow termed a "washout period," the participants submitted blood and urine samples that were checked for the detoxification enzyme to establish a baseline level in each person.
The subjects of the study consumed four oral capsules of the green tea component EGCG daily for 28 days, Chow said.
Each capsule contained the equivalent extract of approximately 2-4 cups of green tea.
After four weeks, the subjects were tested again for levels of GST. The results were promising, Chow said.
"After we analyzed the data we realized that this green tea component has the most dramatic effect on those who have low-baseline (GST) activities to start with," she said. "This means it's actually increasing the levels of those that have low detoxification enzyme capacity, which is good because those are the people that probably need this kind of protection."
Those with low-baseline GST activity showed an increase of roughly 80 percent after 28 days of consuming EGCG, said Donna Vining, senior research nurse at the Cancer Center.
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Barbara Pratt
posted 8/29/07 @ 3:24 PM PST
Since green tea is partially fermented and black tea is fermented longer, do you think the longer fermentation destroyes the detoxifacation enzymes or could the black teas possibly carry the same or even more of these enzymes?
Great article Jackson. (Continued…)
Linda Hamill
posted 9/06/07 @ 3:50 PM PST
Green Tea is an antioxidant and is very healthy for your body.
Please take a look at my site to see the different flavors of our Green Tea that can be added to any of your favorite drinks!
Essential Green Tea is formulated with the highest quality standardized green tea, each 2 oz. (Continued…)
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