Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of black and green tea consumption, with and without milk, on the plasma antioxidant activity in humans.
Design: In a complete cross-over design, 21 healthy volunteers (10 male, 11 female) received a single dose of black tea, green tea (2 g tea solids in 300 ml water) or water with or without milk. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and at several time points up to 2 h post-tea drinking. Plasma was analysed for total catechins and antioxidant activity, using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay.
Results: Consumption of black tea resulted in a significant increase in plasma antioxidant activity reaching maximal levels at about 60 min. A larger increase was observed after consumption of green tea. As anticipated from the higher catechin concentration in green tea, the rise in plasma total catechins was significantly higher after consumption of green tea when compared to black tea. Addition of milk to black or green tea did not affect the observed increases in plasma antioxidant activity.
Conclusions: Consumption of a single dose of black or green tea induces a significant rise in plasma antioxidant activity in vivo. Addition of milk to tea does not abolish this increase. Whether the observed increases in plasma antioxidant activity after a single dose of tea prevent in vivo oxidative damage remains to be established.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 87–92
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Contributors: RL and AJCR were responsible for the design, the actual ‘living phase’ of the study and the article. SAW and LBMT had essential input in both the writing of the protocol and the article.
Guarantor: Unilever Nutrition Centre.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leenen, R., Roodenburg, A., Tijburg, L. et al. A single dose of tea with or without milk increases plasma antioxidant activity in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 87–92 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600900
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600900
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Protective effect of tea against lead and cadmium-induced oxidative stress—a review
BioMetals (2018)
-
Comparison of antioxidant capacities of different types of tea using the spectroscopy methods and semi-empirical mathematical model
European Food Research and Technology (2018)
-
Effects of blueberry supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Journal of Human Hypertension (2017)
-
Modelling the extraction of phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of mixtures of green, white and black teas (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze)
Journal of Food Science and Technology (2015)
-
Identification and characterization of phenolic compounds in hydro methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera (HMEA) by UPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS and in vivo antioxidant activity
Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine (2013)