Hypotensive Effect of Chronic Tea Consumption in Male Normotensive Sprague – Dawley Rats

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of chronic tea intake (1.76g/kg bwt/ day/ rat for 42 days) on blood pressure, body weight and blood lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels).

At the end of the study, the tea-treated rats (n=6) had lower systolic (102.8±1.9 c.f. 111.8± 1.6mmHg; P<0.005), diastolic (86.3± 2.0 c.f. 94.5± 1.2mmHg; P<0.006) and mean arterial (91.8± 1.9c.f. 100.4± 1.3mmHg; P<0.004) pressures compared to the controls (n=6; given normal drinking water).

The tea-treated rats also has lower levels of LDL-cholesterol (43.5±5.0 c.f. 80.0± 6.6 mg/ 100ml; P<0.001), but higher levels of HDL-cholesterol (28.8±2.4 c.f. 21.5± 1.4mg/ 100ml; P<0.025) compared to the controls. The total cholesterol level, triglyceride level and mean body weight was similar in both groups.

The result suggests that chronic tea intake lowers blood pressure; and furthermore, the reduction in LDL-cholesterol level, coupled with a rise in HDL-cholesterol level may account for the hypotensive effect.


NQJHM Vol. 15 (1) 2005: pp. 38-41