Thielecke Frank, Boschmann Michael
DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., New Business Development, Human Nutrition and Health, P.O. Box 2676, Bldg. 241/965, 4002 Basel, CH, Switzerland.
Phytochemistry. 2009 Jan;70(1):11-24. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.11.011. Epub 2009 Jan 13.
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents an emerging health burden for governments and health care providers. Particularly relevant for prevention and early management of MetS are lifestyle conditions including physical activity and the diet. It has been shown that green tea, when consumed on a daily basis, supports health. Many of the beneficial effects of green tea are related to its catechin, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), content. There is conclusive evidence from in vitro and animal studies which provide the concepts for underlying functional mechanisms of green tea catechins and their biological actions. An increasing number of human studies have explored the effects of green tea catechins on the major MetS conditions such as obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the human studies addressing the potential benefits of green tea catechins on the MetS. The number of human studies in this field is still limited. However, the majority of human epidemiological and intervention studies demonstrate beneficial effects of green tea or green tea extracts, rich in EGCG on weight management, glucose control and cardiovascular risk factors. The optimal dose has not yet been established. The current body of evidence in humans warrants further attention. In particular, well-controlled long-term human studies would help to fully understand the protective effects of green tea catechins on parameters related to the MetS.
代谢综合征（MetS）对各国政府和医疗服务提供者而言，正成为一个新出现的健康负担。与代谢综合征的预防和早期管理特别相关的是生活方式因素，包括体育活动和饮食。研究表明，每天饮用绿茶有益健康。绿茶的许多有益作用与其儿茶素含量有关，尤其是（-）-表没食子儿茶素-3-没食子酸酯（EGCG）。体外研究和动物研究提供了确凿证据，为绿茶儿茶素的潜在功能机制及其生物学作用提供了概念。越来越多的人体研究探讨了绿茶儿茶素对主要代谢综合征状况的影响，如肥胖、2型糖尿病和心血管危险因素。本文全面概述了关于绿茶儿茶素对代谢综合征潜在益处的人体研究。该领域的人体研究数量仍然有限。然而，大多数人体流行病学和干预研究表明，富含EGCG的绿茶或绿茶提取物对体重管理、血糖控制和心血管危险因素具有有益作用。最佳剂量尚未确定。目前关于人体的证据值得进一步关注。特别是，严格控制的长期人体研究将有助于充分了解绿茶儿茶素对与代谢综合征相关参数的保护作用。
