Green Tea Lead Research

A recent animal study from Alexandria University in Egypt showed that providing daily green tea extract

• improved the antioxidant potential of the liver,

• protected liver enzymes ALT, AST, ALP,

• protected serum protein determinations,

• reduced cellular degeneration, and

• enhanced regeneration,

when the rats were given lead in their drinking water for 8 weeks (Mehana EE et al, Ameliorated effects of green tea extract on lead induced liver toxicity in rats, Exp Toxicol Pathol, October 2010).

Another cell study from China showed that lead reduced antioxidant SOD levels and catalase levels while increasing malondialdehyde.

However, when EGCG was added, SOD and catalase were increased, and malondialdehyde levels were reduced.

The EGCG benefits showed progressive improvements with increasing concentrations of EGCG, but with this study, the results did not achieve statistical significance (Wei H and Menz Z, Protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate against lead-induced oxidative damage, Hum Exp Toxicol, December 2010).

Both studies are considered preliminary.

Lead poisoning is a global problem. Ingestion is associated with behavioral and learning disabilities, and in extreme cases, may cause seizures or death.

A primary concern is childhood poisoning because their brain development is affected. In the U.S., approximately 250,000 children age 1-5 years have risky levels of lead in their blood (CDC, 2010).

Environmental sources may include U.S. paint made before 1978 and untested imports.

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