Green Tea Supports Bone Health

By CP Staff

According to a new study, green tea polyphenol supplementation improves the micro-architecture of bone, resulting in improved bone strength. The National Osteoporosis Foundation states that approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue. In addition, another 34 million Americans are at risk of developing osteoporosis due to reduced bone mass (osteopenia). Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures, and is responsible for more than 2 million fractures per year.

In this new study, researchers investigated the potential effect of green tea polyphenol supplementation on inflammation-induced changes in bone architecture. In this study, female rats were supplemented with green tea polyphenols or placebo for 12 weeks. Some of the rats were also treated with lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation. Bone micro-architecture, bone strength and levels of the pro-inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were evaluated.

The results showed that the rats receiving lipopolysaccharide alone had decreased trabecular (porous, or cancellous) bone volume and thickness, and decreased bone formation seen in the proximal tibia, which is the upper portion of one of the bones found in the lower leg. Lipopolysaccharide treatment also results in endocortical erosion of the shaft of the tibia and increased numbers of osteoclasts, which are the cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue.

The rats that received green tea polyphenols demonstrated increased trabecular bone volume and periosteal bone formation, which is the outer layer of bone tissue. The rats also showed decreased endocortical erosion of the shaft of the tibia and less trabecular separation in the proximal tibia. In addition, treatment with green tea polyphenols resulted in increased strength of the femur (bone in the thigh) as well as decreased expression of the pro-inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha in the tibia.

The researchers stated, “In conclusion, green tea polyphenol supplementation mitigated deterioration of bone micro-architecture and improved bone integrity in rats with chronic inflammation by suppressing bone erosion and modulating cancellous and endocortical bone compartments, resulting in a larger net bone volume. Such a protective role of green tea polyphenols may be due to a suppression of TNF-alpha.”

Reference:

Shen CL, Yeh JK, Samathanam C, Cao JJ, Stoecker BJ, Dagda RY, Chyu MC, Dunn DM, Wang JS. Green tea polyphenols attenuate deterioration of bone microarchitecture in female rats with systemic chronic inflammation. Osteoporos Int. 2010 Mar 20. Published Online ahead of Print.

Individuals who do not want to consume large amounts of green tea as a beverage can take Green Tea Extract capsules. The Green Tea Extract capsules available here are very low in caffeine and are high in EGCG, an antioxidant polyphenol compound thought to be responsible for many of green tea\'s significant health benefits.