Tea Effects Frequent tea drinking can have direct effects on the genes

Can Teekonsum Affect Genetic Activity??
Consumption of tea has already been associated with numerous health benefits, from a reduced risk of developing heart attacks and high blood pressure to potential protection against certain cancers. Researchers have now found that drinking tea results in biological effects that appear to affect genetically. So consumption is changing our genes, so to speak.

The scientists of Uppsala University in Sweden found in their study that the consumption of tea can affect the human genes. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Human Molecular Genetics".

Tea tastes good and has a preventive effect on the risk of heart attacks and certain types of cancer. Physicians have now found that the consumption of tea even affects the genetic level. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia)

Tea can protect against heart attacks and certain cancers
Many people like to drink tea because of its good taste or its stimulating effect. Drinking tea also leads to certain health benefits. Consumption even protects against heart attacks and certain types of cancer, say the Swedish experts. Most tea drinkers should be new, however, that tea also affects our genes. Thus, consumption could play a role in susceptibility to certain diseases and in general health.

In women, drinking tea leads to epigenetic changes in 28 different gene regions
Our lifestyle or environmental conditions can trigger chemical changes in our body. These changes can affect which genes are turned on or off, explain the researchers. The current study has shown that drinking tea in women is associated with epigenetic changes in 28 different gene regions that interact with cancer or estrogen metabolism.

Coffee and tea affect the body completely differently
In contrast, the consumption of coffee does not lead to such epigenetic changes. This suggests that, while both drinks are rich in antioxidants and can provide health benefits, they still affect the body in completely different ways. These changes were not observed in men. One reason could be that tea affects women through estrogen-related pathways, the authors speculate. However, there were fewer male tea drinkers in the study. This could have made it harder to identify a significant association.

Physicians examined the data of more than 3,000 subjects
In their current research, the scientists analyzed the DNA samples of more than 3,000 adults who had participated in various studies across Europe. The analysis was adapted to age, gender and smoking status. There was no information available on what kind of tea people regularly consumed. However, we know that most individuals drink black tea, according to author Weronica Ek of Uppsala University. We can not say exactly how long or how many times a person needs to drink tea to experience these epigenetic changes, the expert adds.

What proven benefits has the consumption of tea?
A number of other studies have already shown that tea consumption can play a role in suppressing the progression of tumors, reducing inflammation and, indeed, may be a mechanism behind reported health effects, adds Ek.

Many factors affect the outcome of the study
There are many different factors involved in the health benefits of coffee and tea. For example, more coffee drinkers smoked cigarettes than tea drinkers did. Alone, this additional health burden could end up acting as if tea drinkers are generally healthier, explains the author.

Health-conscious people usually drink tea
One reason for this might be that health-conscious people prefer tea over coffee because the media report that drinking tea is healthier. Insights into epigenetic changes are intriguing, and they may provide insight into how compounds in tea affect health, explains Ek. (As)