Tea Linked To Tumor Repression, Reduction Of Disease, Indiana University Researcher Says

INDIANAPOLIS-A popular beverage may do more than just quench your thirst, an Indiana University School of Medicine researcher reported Sept. 14 at the Second International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health in Washington, D.C.

The beverage, tea, has beneficial effects on reducing the level of oxidative stress, especially in smokers, reported James Klaunig, Ph.D., director of the Division of Toxicology and a professor of pharmacology and toxicology.

"We looked at smokers and non-smokers and showed that tea consumption resulted in a decrease in oxidative damage in humans," he said. "Cancer, emphysema and heart disease might be related to oxidative stress. Tea may not cure it, but it may slow down the pathologic consequences. It appears to function as an antioxidant similar to vitamin E and vitamin C except the components in tea are more potent than in those vitamins."

Participants in this research included 50 Hoosiers between the ages of 25 and 55 and 240 Chinese soldiers. Dr. Klaunig has an appointment as a visiting professor at Beijing Medical University, allowing him to conduct research in one of the major tea drinking countries in the world. He said the Chinese soldiers were excellent test subjects because they share a common lifestyle and diet.

Dr. Klaunig began his tea research about seven years ago, looking at the beverage's effects as an antioxidant in in vitro tissue cell cultures. Later, his research moved to mice. The rodents were given drinking water with a 2 percent concentration of tea, similar to the amount present in beverages consumed by humans.

"We showed tea can prevent chemically induced liver and lung cancer in mice," he said.

Dr. Klaunig explained that tea mainly works in the tumor promotion stage when precancerous cells first begin to divide and grow.

"We have not looked at whether it prevents metastases, but we do know it prevents tumor cells from growing," he said.

Dr. Klaunig is a true believer in the benefits of tea - he sips it all day long, he says, after his initial cup of coffee.

Black, green or oolong tea, served hot or cold, all have the same beneficial effects, he says. The secret is in the quantity.

"The more you drink, the better off you may be," he advises.

Contact: Mary Hardin
317-274-7722
mhardin@iupui.edu

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