To Determine the Effects of Green Tea on Blood Pressure of Healthy and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Individuals

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Green tea (GT) contains more than 4000 biologically active compounds of which polyphenols are important. Flavonoids are the most important of polyphenols family. Flavonoids contain catechins, which are the primary polyphenols in GT. Catechins exert anti-oxidant activity. Hence the GT neutralizes the free radicals produced during normal body metabolism. Green tea exerts many effects on the normal physiological functions of human body. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of green tea on blood pressure of healthy individuals and patients of type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODOLOGY: This cross sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Physiology and Medical Research Center LUMHS and NIMRA Jamshoro from April 2015 to October 2015 after approval of the research ethics committee of the Institute. Through convenience sampling, after observing inclusion and exclusion criteria, a sample of 75 healthy volunteers and 75 diagnosed DM cases was selected. Informed consent was taken from all participants. Pulse and blood pressure recorded as per standard protocol. Blood sugar was determined. Data entered in Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed on SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Incorporation, USA) Student “t” test and Chi square test were used for the analysis of continuous and categorical variables. Statistical significance was defined as p-value of ≤0.05 RESULTS: From 150 total study subjects, 75 were healthy control subjects and 75 were type 2 diabetics (DM) subjects. The systolic and diastolic BP showed statistically significant improvement in diabetics at 90th intervention day, blood glucose was also improved in diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the intake of green tea improves blood pressure and blood sugar in diabetic patients. Hence, the present study concludes that the green tea exerts beneficial effects on the cardiovascular physiology, modification to lowering blood pressure and blood sugar.