Tea Offers Blood Pressure-Lowering Benefits
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Researchers have found that certain compounds in black and green tea help relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the walls of blood vessels.
Two catechin-type flavonoid compounds (epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate) activate a specific ion channel protein called KCNQ5, which is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels.
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Black tea is often mixed with milk. In laboratory tests, the UCI team found that the addition of milk to black tea prevented the beneficial KCNQ5-activating effects of tea.
However, study co-author Geoffrey Abbott, professor in the department of physiology and biophysics in the UCI School of Medicine, said researchers "don't believe this means one needs to avoid milk when drinking tea to take advantage of the beneficial properties of tea."
"We are confident that the environment in the human stomach will separate the catechins from the proteins and other molecules in milk that would otherwise block catechins' beneficial effects," Abbott added.
Previous studies have shown that even when milk is added, tea retains its blood pressure-lowering benefits.
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Researchers have found that certain compounds in black and green tea help relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the walls of blood vessels.
Two catechin-type flavonoid compounds (epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate) activate a specific ion channel protein called KCNQ5, which is found in the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels.
Special: Blood Pressure & Love Life Helped by Doctor's 'Prescription.' See How.
Black tea is often mixed with milk. In laboratory tests, the UCI team found that the addition of milk to black tea prevented the beneficial KCNQ5-activating effects of tea.
However, study co-author Geoffrey Abbott, professor in the department of physiology and biophysics in the UCI School of Medicine, said researchers "don't believe this means one needs to avoid milk when drinking tea to take advantage of the beneficial properties of tea."
"We are confident that the environment in the human stomach will separate the catechins from the proteins and other molecules in milk that would otherwise block catechins' beneficial effects," Abbott added.
Previous studies have shown that even when milk is added, tea retains its blood pressure-lowering benefits.
