Cardiovascular Health Green tea can protect against heart attacks and strokes

How does green tea affect the health of the heart?

For several years, there have been statements that the consumption of green tea has a positive effect on health. Researchers now found that a substance in green tea seems to protect against heart attacks.

The researchers from the University of Lancaster and the University of Leeds found in their recent research that consuming green tea could reduce the risk of heart attack. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal "Journal of Biological Chemistry".

What is EGCG?

A substance found in green tea could help physicians find new ways to reduce the risk of heart attack. A molecule in green tea, known as EGCG, can bind to a protein found in plaques. These plaques are associated with coronary heart disease, the authors of the study explain. The discovery could open up new opportunities for the development of molecules to combat deposits in blood vessels that contribute to a so-called coronary artery disease, the scientists hope. However, it is by no means clear whether drinking green tea can help with the disease.

EGCG should be optimized

If people drink normal amounts of green tea, it probably will not have any particular effect, says study author Professor David Middleton of the University of Lancaster. The molecule EGCG now needs to be studied more carefully to modify or adapt it so that it can better get to the plaques. It has previously been shown that EGCG affects the architecture of proteins that form plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. In the current study, scientists explored the effect of green tea on ApoA-I. This protein is a key component of what is known as healthy cholesterol HDL.

Breaking plaques increase the risk of stroke

In certain circumstances, ApoA-I can form fine fibers that accumulate within the arteries in plaques. The addition of these fibers increases the likelihood of the plaques breaking apart, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, says Professor Middleton. EGCG appeared to disrupt the fine fibers of the protein into smaller, circular shapes that were soluble under certain circumstances.

How can the risk of coronary heart disease be reduced??

A balanced diet, non-smoking and other lifestyle aspects are key ways that reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in humans. When consuming green tea, the effect remains unclear. The body breaks down the constituents of green tea, and it's not clear how much EGCG really gets into the blood, say critics of the current study. (As)