[Effect of tea polyphenols on oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in healthy and obese people].

Obese people are at high risk for developing diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, which lead to an increased risk of mortality. Evidence for the potential role of oxidative stress in various diseases and pathophysiological processes suggests that the dietary intake and the therapeutic use of antioxidants may have positive health effects. The aim of the study was: 1) to investigate the ability of the major tea polyphenols: (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), theaflavins (TF) and gallic acid (GA) to protect in vitro human neutrophils from oxidative damage induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), 2) estimation the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in obese patient depending on the red tea Pu-Erh drinking, 3) estimation inflammatory marker: CRP.

METHODS

We tested 14 obese patients (aged 45+/-12 years, women, BMI=34+/-5.1 kg/m2). The inclusion criteria were based on physical examination, BMI, WHR, and the body composition examination based on bioimpedance method. PMA were isolated and oxidant production, in response to 1 microg/ml PMA, was characterized by the production of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and chemiluminescence intensity. CRP level was assayed by the immunoturbidimetric test in serum. Control group consisted of healthy blood donors.

RESULTS

Women consuming red tea revealed alteration in reactive oxygen species generation; the relative decrease of RFT was greater after 5 months than that after 1 month of treatment. A decrease in ROS generation after red tea consumption was accompanied by the decrease of ROS in response to tested compounds in normal cells. EGCG and TF showed similar potency in antioxidative activities. Tea polyphenols were not found to modulate CRP level in obese women.

CONCLUSIONS

Tea may thus represent an important source of dietary antioxidants; there is need for more detailed studies to improve our understanding of the role of tea in reducing risk of major disease states.