Green Tea Extract

(Camellia sinensis)

DRI (RDA or AI for Adults)

None

Adult Maintenance - Therapeutic Range

100 - 1,000 mg (@50% polyphenols). About 1-8 cups of tea, depending on how it is brewed.

Major Sources

Green tea leaves

Non-Therapeutic Importance

None

Possible Therapeutic Applications

CONSULT WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FIRST: Green Tea Extract (GTE) contains many polyphenols, including quercetin and catechins, especially (-)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Catechins are synergistic with vitamins E and C. Depending on how it is tested, EGCG is 20 to 200 times more powerful than vitamin E in neutralizing pro-oxidants and free radicals. EGCG protects against digestive and respiratory infections, and can reduce the cancer-promoting actions of carcinogens and ultraviolet light. GTE can lower blood cholesterol levels, and can also reduce high blood pressure by suppressing angiotensin I converting enzyme. GTE stimulates the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Supplementation may prevent, or be helpful with, the following conditions:

Aging
Allergies (allergic rhinitis, hay fever)
Asthma
Atherosclerosis (heart disease)
Cancer
Crohn's Disease
Diabetes
Hepatitis
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Immunodepression (immune function)
Infection (colds, flu, etc.)
Periodontal Disease - mostly when taken as tea