Green Tea Constituent Supports Blood Sugar Balancing

by CP Staff

Epigallocatechin gallate, a component of green tea, was recently studied in mice genetically predisposed to autoimmune-induced blood sugar and insulin abnormalities.

In this new study, researchers supplemented epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the drinking water of mice with elevated blood glucose levels. At 32 weeks of age, the mice were evaluated for the development of autoimmune destruction of the islet cells in the pancreas, which are the cells that make insulin. The mice were also evaluated for the anti-inflammatory cell mediator interleukin(IL)-10, plasma insulin levels and glycosylated hemoglobin, a measurement of blood sugar control over the previous 3 months.

The study demonstrated that in the mice that received EGCG, 75 percent of the mice had properly functioning islet cells and healthy blood glucose levels. In the control group that did not receive EGCG, only 33.3 percent of the mice had properly functioning islet cells and healthy blood sugar levels. Additionally, the study showed that the mice supplemented with EGCG consistently had higher plasma insulin levels, increased survival rates and lower glycosylated hemoglobin levels compared to the mice in the control group. The EGCG group also had increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

The researchers concluded that EGCG may be a novel plant-derived compound able to maintain islet cell function, thereby supporting healthy blood sugar levels.

Reference:

Fu Z, Zhen W, Yuskavage J, Liu D. Epigallocatechin gallate delays the onset of type 1 diabetes in spontaneous non-obese diabetic mice. Br J Nutr. 2010 Dec;9:1-8.