In Asia green tea is an inherent part of the culture. In Japan, according to prefectures, people drink up to 1,5 liter/day. The already implemented, over 11 years running study in japan called Ohsaki-Study with 40.530 adults in the age between 40 to 79 years showed, that green tea has positive cardiovascular effects what leads into a life-extending outcome. The dying-rate for male participants, which drunk more than five cups on a daily base, sunk to 12 percent, for women down to 23 percent.

The renowned University of Yale evaluated over 100 studies with green tea in 2006. The researchers wanted to find out, why in Asia with the highest consume of cigarettes worldwide the cardiovascular diseases and cancer is lower than in western countries. Prof. Dr. Bauer Sumpio, head of the study, evaluated more than 100 experimental and clinical studies about green tea.

His theory about the Asian paradox is mainly attributed to the phenol EGCG. On average Asians drink more than 1,2 liter per day. EGCG takes effect anti-oxidative and prevents LDL-Oxidation, which is the key factor for arteriosclerosis. Furthermore EGCG reduces the extent of blood platelet aggregation, regulates lipids and benefits the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, which are important factors for the reduction of cardiovascular diseases.

Interestingly there are no comparable cancer-rates in other countries with a high consumption of tea. It’s noticeable that especially regions in japan, where a big amount of green tea is produced (left), have a lower lung cancer disease-rate (right) than others. Most of all regions, which produce and consume plenty of green tea, show the lowest disease-rates. It´s really difficult to determine causality on the basis of many factors (City- vs. land population, different eating habits, etc.). However it is striking that the consumption of green tea plays a crucial role.

In the recent years scientists noticed, that EGCG has a significant positive influence on many incurable diseases like Alzheimer´s, Parkinson´s, Huntington´s chorea or ALS – without the harmful secondary effects of traditional medications or treatments. In several clinical experiments EGCG was able to prevent brain cells from mortifying and thus operated “neuroprotective”.

A placebo-controlled clinical pilot study, carried out by the University Clinic Boston (USA), with 42 patients with coronary heart diseases showed, that the endothelium function was improving after an administration of 300mg EGCG. Vascular dilation was measured with ultrasound. The improved endothelium function of the vessels led to an improvement of the blood pressure readings.

Another EGCG-study with 87 patients from Wales in the year 2008 was able to prove a significant effect on the diastolic blood pressure.

A study of the University of Dundee from November 2014 about the application of EGCG in combination with Cysteamin (Thioethanol-amin) revealed that 90 % of the patients showed an improvement of inflammation-symptoms. The study showed a noticeable increased effectivity with Cysteamin in combination with EGCG. EGCG in combination with Cysteamin is going to improve the therapy of mucoviscidosis in the opinion of the scientists.

Some individual cases caused sensations in the recent years. The highly esteemed hematologist from Heidelberg, Prof. Dr. Werner Hunstein developed 2003 a case of amyloidosis, a rare and always deadly disease, which causes proteins to thicken and deposit. Crucial cases of the disease cause the cardiac septum and the tongue to thicken, so that the patient becomes weak and vulnerable. Currently amyloidosis is treated with chemotherapy. This radical treatment extends the lifespan generally only about a few months.

This was the case for the seriously ill patient Prof. Dr. Hunstein. The chemotherapy in the year 2006, which took all his physical strength, could extend his expectancy only a few months. As he was told about the first results of a research group from the Max-Delbrück Center for molecular medicine regarding EGCG he decided to do a comprehensive self-experiment. He drank up to 2 liter of very intense green tea each day.

Just after he started his „Green-Tea-Therapy“ he became witness of the unexpected. In a short time his symptoms of disease were completely reduced. This case created an international stir. Many newspapers reported about his case.

 

How was that possible?

The EGCG seemingly break all devastating proteins down, which were deposit in the whole body. It was even determined, that the thickness of the cardiac septum was measureable reduced. The consumption of green tea afforded Prof. Dr. Hunstein another 5 ½ years without afflictions. This case is all the more astounding, that till this day there is no therapy for amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is still an immedicable disease, which is based on the misfolding of proteins. After a diagnosis the expectation of life is commonly less than 6 months.

A detailed report of Prof. Hunstein can be found here: Website von Prof. Hunstein

EGCG within the green tea has a natural effect on the arrest of protein-misfolding. It operates on a cellular level and prevents the fatal concatenation process of the proteins. So the irreversible dying of brain cells can be prevented. EGCG can destroy already linked proteins and stop the process of concatenation. Toxic, misfolded proteins are turned into harmless aggregate, so-called “oligomere”. An important aspect is the excellent tolerance of green tea. The beverage, that was tested over thousands of years on humans, shows even with high doses (>10 cups per day) no significant side effects.

Scientists achieved new insights the recent years, that prove, that amyloidosis, Down´s syndrome, Alzheimer´s, Parkinson´s and many other neurodegenerative diseases are based on the same fundamental pathological process: Proteins are chaining up in an accelerating way and destroying cells in the brain and organs. Scientists talk about a “deadly cascade”, which evolves unnoticed over the years.

The dying of brain cells (Neurons) goes along with forgetfulness and the loss of personality with the Alzeimer´s disease, the tremor with Parkinson´s as well as learning disability with Down´s syndrome. The search for a neuroprotective substance was a long one. Through the detection of EGCG scientists were able to find a substance with the needed effects.

A study of the university clinic Barcelona was possible to determine a cognitive improvement on young adults with Down´s syndrome, as they got treated with EGCG. Down´s syndrome is a disease based on genetic mechanisms, which comes hand in hand with a learning disability. Young people with Down´s syndrome learn very slowly. The massive and early appearance of the Alzheimer´s disease in this connection is a major problem.

As part of this study young patients were delivered EGCG in a form of a health supplement. It was immediately after the beginning of the therapy a positive effect noticeable, which was proven with many measurement series. A key factor is that the families of the patients could notice an explicit improvement in daily routines and the enhancement of livability. After the therapy stop within the study, an aggravation of the cognitive performance took place, which leads to the conclusion, that the intake of EGCG is needed on a daily base.

Green tea resp. EGCG is the first actual therapeutic approach, which has a measurable positive effect on neurological deficits. Crucial is the fact, that the neurological deficits on Down´s syndrome are caused by misfolded proteins. EGCG has a wide range of protein-based activity. EGCG can therefore be used on many other neurological or in general protein-misfolding-based diseases.

An overview about the diverse field of application of EGCG is listed here:

List of clinical studies