Possible contribution of green tea drinking habits to the prevention of stroke.

Among 5910 nondrinking and nonsmoking women (of greater than or equal to 40 years of age) in a prefectural city of Sendai, and two villages of Taijiri and Wakuya in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, medical history of stroke was less frequently observed among those who took more green tea in daily life. No relation with tea drinking was observed for hypertension history. The uneven distribution of stroke history was detectable even after the effects of age, location of residence, and high salt intake were ruled out. The incidence of stroke and cerebral hemorrhage during a 4-year follow-up of the study population was twice or more times higher in those who took less green tea (less than 5 cups a day) than in those who took more (greater than or equal to 5 cups daily).