Green Tea and Stroke Studies
Pathways To Recovery

Does drinking green tea reduce your risk of getting a stroke ? Dr. Fraser from the Curtin University of Technology investigated in his 2007 literature review.

According to him, two green tea and stroke population studies reported positive findings. A large number of studies have also proposed biological mechanisms on how consuming tea may reduce stroke risk.

But results have been inconsistent. Interpreting them is tricky. Populations can respond differently to tea drinking. The types of tea, how long it is being consumed and the types of stroke can sway the results either way.

Further studies are needed, but it's no point waiting for the scientists to prove it. Dr. Fraser concluded:

Green tea not only reduces stroke risk, it may one day be used to reverse cell damage after a stroke has occurred.

A 2005 study conducted by the Institute of Child Health in the United Kingdom found that drinking green tea after a stroke may speed up the recovery process.

Heart attacks reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain and heart, causing cell death and irreversible damage.

Laboratory testing on heart cells found that green tea contains an active compound called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that reduces cell death after a heart attack or stroke.

EGCG also speeds up the recovery of heart cells and alleviates organ damage. It works by blocking the action of a protein called Stat 1, which plays a part in inducing cell death.

"We're extremely encouraged by these findings and hope to implement them in the clinical setting to minimise cell death activation levels in patients with acute coronary artery disease," said molecular biologist Dr. Anastasis Stephanou, who led the research.

He said more green tea and stroke research would have to be carried out before patients could be advised to drink it after a heart attack or stroke.

Another 2007 study conducted by the University of California-San Francisco reported similar benefit, but through a different mechanism.

Researchers found that green tea extract gallotannin (called GT) can protect against post-ischemic brain damage. It does so by inhibiting the action of PARG, an enzyme that kills brain cells by inhibiting cell repair.

The researchers have previously found that GT inhibits PARG in cells culture. Now they have found the same benefits apply to laboratory rats. 

Green tea extract GT was administered intranasally – via the nose – up to 3 hours after reperfusion.

They also discovered that GT helps stroke patients in another way. It blocks movement of a protein called apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). This protein resides in a dormant state, but when activated can cause cell death.

Fraser ML, Mok GS, Lee AH (2007). Green tea and stroke prevention: Emerging evidence. Complement Ther Med. 2007 Mar;15(1):46-53. Epub 2006 Aug 30.

Paul A. Townsend, Tiziano M. Scarabelli, Evasio Pasini, Gianluca Gitti, Marta Menegazzi, Hisanori Suzuki, Richard A. Knight, David S. Latchman, and Anastasis Stephanou (2005). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits STAT-1 activation and protects cardiac myocytes from ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis. The FASEB Journal Express Article doi:10.1096/fj.04-1716fje.

Media Release http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200612283.

Green Tea and Heart Heatlh

Green tea and heart studies have always been controversial and conflicting. But increasing scientists are uncovering evidence of its real benefits.

Back to Top of Green Tea and Stroke

Back to Green Tea Benefits Main Page

Back to Tea Health Benefits Main Page

Back to Amazing Green Tea Home

In the tea world, you can never know too much. Every month, I put pen to paper a letter to my tea friends worldwide. Amazing Green Tea Newsletter is dedicated to solving problems every tea drinker faces. Email Address Name(Optional) Then Learn More