Cardioprotective effects of tea and its catechins

Abstract

Tea is rich in polyphenolic catechins which are beneficial to health. There have been evidences suggesting that habitual tea consumption may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Intake of tea or catechins isolated from tea was shown to inhibit the development of CVD in population studies and in animal models. Many possible pathways and mechanisms were investigated. There have been evidences showing that tea and tea catechins reduced the risk of CVD by enhancing antioxidant activity, attenuating metabolic syndrome, inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme, improving endothelial dys-function, preventing cardiac hypertrophy and protecting mitochondria from damage.