Black tea protects against hardening of the arteries – healing practice

Flavonoids reduce the risk of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta

the flavonoids in black tea may contribute to better cardiovascular health in older adults – at least in women. The risk of a Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta is apparently significantly reduced in them by the consumption of tea.

A team of researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and the School of Biomedical Sciences of University of Western Australia studied the effects of flavonoid intake on abdominal aortic calcification and found a positive effect established.

Calcification of the abdominal aorta

“The extent of abdominal aortic calcification is an important predictor of the occurrence of vascular disease”explains the research team in the specialist magazine “Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and vascular biology“.

Calcification of the abdominal aorta – the the largest artery of the body, which supplies the abdominal organs and lower limbs with oxygen-rich blood from the heart – is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke, among others.

The extent of aortic calcification may also dementia risk later in life, researchers report in a current issue Press release to the results of their studies.

What are the effects of flavonoids?

It is also known from previous studies that regular consumption of apples, an important source of flavonoids, is associated with a reduction in abdominal aortic calcification.

Different flavonoids are natural substances found not only in apples, but also in many common foods and beverages such as black and green tea, nuts, citrus fruits, berries, etc.

In most cases, a small group of foods and beverages that are particularly high in flavonoids contribute a large portion of the total flavonoid intake in the diet, the study officials explain. Ben Parmentier from ECU Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute.

“The main sources are usually black or green tea, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, red wine, apples, raisins/raisins and dark chocolate”, so Parmenter. These can contain many different types of flavonoids, such as Flavan-3-ols and flavonols.

In this study, the researchers used data from 881 women of the Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging Women.

Flavonoid risk reduction

Overall, older women had a higher intake of flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols with a 36 to 39 percent a lower likelihood of severe abdominal aortic calcification, the team reports.

Black tea was the primary source of total flavonoids in the study cohort and was associated with a significantly lower odds of severe abdominal aortic calcification.

Compared to those who drank no tea, participants who drank two to six cups a day had a uh 16 to 42 percent The researchers explain that there is a lower risk of suffering from severe calcifications of the abdominal aorta.

However, no significant positive association with abdominal aortic calcification was found for some other dietary sources of flavonoids, such as fruit juice, Red wine and Chocolate.

Crucial total flavonoid intake

However, also seems “in women who do not drink black tea, a higher total intake of non-tea flavonoids to protect against severe arterial calcifications”He underlines Parment. Apparently, flavonoids from other sources also offer some protection.

“Abdominal aortic calcification is an important predictor of vascular disease, and this study shows that intake of flavonoids, which can protect against abdominal aortic calcification, is readily achievable in the diet of most people.”, summarizes the director of the study. (fp)