Green tea may help protect against autoimmune disease, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.
Researchers studied an animal model for type I diabetes and primary Sjogren’s Syndrome, which damages the glands that produce tears and saliva.
They found significantly less salivary gland damage in a group treated with green tea extract, suggesting a reduction of the Sjogren’s symptom commonly referred to as dry mouth. Dry mouth can also be caused by certain drugs, radiation and other diseases.
Approximately 30 percent of elderly Americans suffer from degrees of dry mouth, says Dr. Stephen Hsu, a researcher in the MCG School of Dentistry and lead investigator on the study. Only 5 percent of the elderly in China, where green tea is widely consumed, suffer from the problem.
“Since it is an autoimmune disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome causes the body to attack itself and produce extra antibodies that mistakenly target the salivary and lacrimal glands,” he says. There is no cure or prevention for Sjogren’s Syndrome.
Researchers studied the salivary glands of the water-consuming group and a green tea extract-consuming group to look for inflammation and the number of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells that gather at sites of inflammation to fend off foreign cells.
The group treated with green tea had significantly fewer lymphocytes, Dr. Hsu says. Their blood also showed lower levels of autoantibodies, protein weapons produced when the immune system attacks itself, he says.
Researchers already know that one component of green tea – EGCG – helps suppress inflammation, according to Dr. Hsu. "So, we suspected that green tea would suppress the inflammatory response of this disease. Those treated with the green tea extract beginning at three weeks, showed significantly less damage to those glands over time.”
Researchers also suspect that the EGCG in green tea can turn on the body’s defense system against TNF-alpha – a group of proteins and molecules involved in systemic inflammation. TNF-alpha, which is produced by white blood cells, can reach out to target and kill cells.
“The salivary gland cells treated with EGCG had much fewer signs of cell death caused by TNF-alpha,” Dr. Hsu says. “We don’t yet know exactly how EGCG makes that happen. That will require further study. In some ways, this study gives us more questions than answers.”
These results, published in a recent issue of Autoimmunity, reinforced findings of a 2005 study showing a similar phenomenon in a Petrie dish, Dr. Hsu says. Further study could help determine green tea’s protective role in other autoimmune diseases, including lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis, he says.
Adapted from materials provided by Medical College of Georgia.
^ Green tea is used to manage some types of chronic leukemia. I drank a cup a day for the last five years but it hasn't stopped me from developing RA. *shrugs*_popupControl();
off to brew a pot !!! Thanks for the info.
I drink a lot of green tea, but no help yet! Hope it works for someone!Lynn, I'm puzzled why lately you've been posting all these old articles (with the dates removed for some reason). While it's probably interesting for someone who doesn't follow research or is new to RA, it's getting kind of cluttering and redundant since it's all old information. Have you ever considered starting a databank (ie a webpage) with the articles you think are relevant instead of posting them over and over again? Then interested newbies would have a warehouse of all your research and they wouldn't have to get it in dribs and drabs. Also, you wouldn't have to violate copyright laws several times a day, if that means anything to you.By the way, here's some slightly less old research that green tea drinkers will be interested in:
Complementing Green Tea With Lemon Boosts Antioxidants
http://www.medindia.com/news/Complementing-Green-Tea-With-Lemon-Boosts-Antioxidants-29335-1.htmBabs and ShaDucky,
Green tea also has cardiovascular benefits...
http://heartdisease.about.com/od/reducingcardiacrisk/a/green_tea.htmOkay....I guess you're not getting enough attention at AF these days.I know, I have research a lot of this stuff. I am pretty active in trying to find a less chemical way to be healthy and in no pain...so far...well...you know how it does! lol! thanks thoughShaDucky, I hear you loud and clear. You know what's incredibly helpful? Exercise. I know, blegh, but it really makes a huge difference.My hubby and I have been going for walks lately. We can't go too far but we are trying. I am flaring real bad, but it is helping my mood a lot. Helps the stiffness a lot. I hope I will be to do something more. I use to be so active, I ran a lot! I haven't given up though. I don't know! As long as we can have some sunshine! Then we can walk some more. I have had so much problem with meds, I am willing to try anything to help. Don't mean to throw a monkey wrench on your suggestion of exercise, Gimpy, but I recently read that too much exercise can trigger inflammation, and it is recommended in moderation. I, for one, was going nuts with exercise at the time of my RA diagnosis, so I tend to believe this.Well, I am sure I am never in danger of getting "too much" exercise, haha! Do you remeber where you read that? I'd be interested to see it.I think that depends on you body. Everyones RA is different, and everyones body will react differently. I know that I have a limit, it just depends on what I am doing. You have to listen to your body, you know it best.
[QUOTE=Nancy R.]Don't mean to throw a monkey wrench on your suggestion of exercise, Gimpy, but I recently read that too much exercise can trigger inflammation, and it is recommended in moderation. I, for one, was going nuts with exercise at the time of my RA diagnosis, so I tend to believe this.[/QUOTE]
I saw that too, though I can't remember where.
Moderation is the key!
Yes, it was a very interesting article, several pages long, in Curves' "Diane" magazine, around fall of '07, that I read at my gym. I don't think it is online, but I will search for it. The article listed auto-immune diseases, many of which I would never have guessed were AI.
HE HE HE !!