We previously demonstrated that
black tea consumption reverses endothelial dysfunction in patients with
coronary artery disease. To investigate potential mechanisms of this effect, we examined plasma catechins and systemic markers of oxidation,
inflammation, and
antioxidant protection from 66 subjects enrolled in that study. We collected samples at baseline, 2 h after 450 ml of
black tea (acute), after 4 weeks
of 900 ml of
black tea per day (chronic), and after acute and chronic consumption of water. Total catechins increased 33% after acute
tea (P < 0.05) and 29% after chronic
tea (P < 0.05). Of individual catechins, plasma
epicatechin gallate (ECG) concentration significantly increased with acute
tea consumption, and plasma
epicatechin (EC) increased with chronic
tea consumption.
Tea consumption did not improve plasma
antioxidant capacity and did not reduce urinary
8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, or urinary
8-isoprostane levels. Changes in
catechin levels did not correlate with changes in endothelial function, plasma markers of oxidative stress, or
C-reactive protein. In contrast, endothelial function at baseline correlated with dietary
flavonoid intake (beta = 0.32, P = 0.02) and with baseline plasma EC concentration after adjusting for confounding variables (beta = 0.39, P = 0.03). These findings suggest that the benefits of
black tea consumption on endothelial function may not be attributable to
tea catechins or a systemic
antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effect. Chronic dietary
flavonoid status appears to relate to endothelial function, possibly suggesting that other
flavonoids or polyphenolic components of
tea favorably influence vascular health and risk for
cardiovascular disease.