The effect of green tea and the antioxidant component on the brain,
About old age and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
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Antioxidant EGCG: curse or blessing
Whenever I ask my friends if they know what the combination of the letters "EGCG" on a package of Vysotsky green tea means, they all answer me: absolutely not. Well EGCG is short for Epi Gallo Catechin Gallate and is the main active ingredient of green tea. It belongs to a group of natural antioxidants called polyphenols or catechins that are comparable in strength to vitamin C or E, two very potent antioxidants. Catechins are found in many foods such as dark chocolate, wine, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate juice and of course green tea.
Why is it important - what did we discover in the lab?
Well, in the aging process there is an accumulation in the brain of toxic substances called free radicals and also of iron. The toxins and the iron together, lead to a kind of "brain rust", similar to the iron that oxidizes when exposed to air. Therefore, my working assumption was that antioxidants found in green tea could protect the brain.
In an initial experiment, we gave an extract of green tea rich in antioxidants, or pure EGCG in an amount equivalent to drinking 2-4 cups per day, to mice with Parkinson's disease. To our surprise, the treatment saved nerve cells that were damaged by the disease. In another study, we found that EGCG attacks and eliminates deposits of a toxic substance called beta-amyloid, which accumulates in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's patients, and also restored the animals' memory. It also activated the "powerhouses" of the cell, the mitochondria, so that the cells received more energy supply for their existence.
What is the difference between black tea and green tea?
Black tea and green tea are produced from a plant called Camelia Sinensis, the difference between them is in the way they are processed.
In green tea, the leaves of the plant are picked while they are young and dried shortly after they are picked, while the black tea leaves undergo prolonged drying and oxidation, hence its dark color.
Drinking tea is attributed beneficial effects, in a large number of diseases, such as inflammation, diabetes, stomach aches, cancer, improving memory, etc. Epidemiological studies show that people who drink 1-2 cups of green tea a day have a low incidence of cognitive disorders.
What are the conclusions?
The pioneering studies of our laboratory and those that followed raised global awareness of the virtues of green tea and its polyphenolic component, EGCG, in brain health.
The "million dollar" question is whether the results in laboratory animals can be applied to humans as well. Will green tea ensure safe aging, or delay dementia?
May I have a link to the article you mentioned?
What does the L_THIANINE in green tea extract contribute to the brain?
Bad title. Why create doubt in the public and say about green tea "a curse or a blessing"?
You are creating baseless fear in the public regarding green tea.
Hello to Dr. Sylviat
According to you, polyphenols penetrate the blood-brain barrier less well than fatty molecules.
It is said that salmon eggs and krill oil are excellent for preventing Alzheimer's because they dissolve the hard fatty substance that accumulates in the brain cells, which actually destroys the cells in the brain as a result. How about these fats.
I also heard that drinking more than 3 cups of green tea a day can be very harmful to the body, cause dehydration and even damage the kidneys.
I would be very happy to hear what you think about changing the topics I raised.
Hello Orna
I have not heard of Kirill oil, but there are many publications about fatty or other substances and beneficial effects on brain inflammation and/or amyloid deposition in the brain. There is still no medicine that can slow down dementia, but the ongoing studies over the years attribute to the Mediterranean diet or a healthy diet a reduction in the chance of cognitive impairment in old age. That is, the effect is preventive.
Regarding drinking a lot of green tea, it is not recommended because the ingredients can become toxic and kill cells
Very interesting, I would love to read or hear lectures and more information about green tea, physical activity, what type, if there is anything to do with raising the heart rate, how often, are there any types of green tea that are particularly recommended? Do you lecture in Haifa?
Even with a small helper this is important, because in the development of the neurons the process is slow.
Hello Ricky
In the article there is a chapter about how, unlike vitamins, BDNF is produced on our body's own tissues
What can be done to treat and free a brain without a dead human brain?!
Hello Dr. Silvia Mendel. My name is Ronit Romano and I underwent surgery to remove a meningioma from the brain.
According to the doctor, 75% of the hippocampus was removed. I have memory problems.
And I would like to read more studies. By the way, I would love to participate in the research. ?
[email protected]
Is it possible to obtain EGCG and how?
Hello Ricky
In the article there is a chapter about how, unlike vitamins, BDNF is produced on our body's own tissues
Is it possible to get the vitamin recommended in the article and how?
Hello Ricky
In the article there is a chapter about how, unlike vitamins, BDNF is produced on our body's own tissues
Peace
Have studies been published on the effect of green tea, physical activity on the human hippocampus or is the research still focused on mice? The famous operation in 1953, in which the hippocampus of a Pirchusian patient was removed, caused his current memory to disappear, and he lives in the memory of before 1953. Do you see changes in the human hippocampus in relation to the administration of antioxidants? Thanks for revealing the brain mystery. Chechi
Hello Tzachi
Most of the studies that follow changes in brain structure and volume in several tissues in humans test the effect of physical activity or cognitive training. Regarding green tea, there are several works that tested drinking green tea and the effect on performance in cognitive tests, memory, anxiety and partial vigilance with the help of MRI imaging, and in some of them a positive result was reported. The most significant connection is found between physical activity and maintaining the volume of the hippocampus, meaning that brain aging is reduced with physical training.
Hello, Dr. Mendel. If I understood your answer, you referred to the improvement of absorption in the blood, while I asked about the blood-brain barrier. Can substances in the blood pass through it? Can you specifically address this?
Thank you very much, Nava
Hello Nava
Polyphenols penetrate the blood-brain barrier less well than fatty molecules, but according to the studies it is possible to measure amounts in the brain after oral administration. Nanoparticles will penetrate better both in the intestine and the brain.
An interesting and important article.
What about the recommended poir tea?
Hello Dorit
Puer tea is also derived from Camellia sinensis stem, similar to green tea, but there is a difference in the final stages of production that affects the color, taste and composition of catechins and other components. It also contains EGCG but in a different concentration.
Thanks for the important information. How and does the substance cross the blood brain barrier? In pomegranate seed oil developed by Prof. Gavizon as a nutritional supplement refers to this issue and claimed that its product knows how to deal with it. I would love to hear your opinion. Thank you.
Hello Nava
Your question is excellent, several laboratories in the world are working on formulations with nanoencapsulation technology to improve absorption in the digestive system. You should of course check that the absorption is indeed improved in humans, to remind you there is a supplement called Mito-Q with absorption 10 times higher than the starting material, coenzyme Q10, and it has been proven that the exposure in humans is indeed higher
Really enlightening article
But my knowledge on the subject did not increase and remained as it was before reading. It's a shame to publish articles without a purpose. I would love to know when you have an answer
Unequivocal to the question.
The article is very interesting, but I remained unsure of the question. Will green tea ensure safe aging, or delay dementia? To harm is not harmful it is safe.
Hello Maya
Indeed the question remains open and this is also true of innovative developments for degenerative brain diseases. As long as there is no drug that can slow the progression of the disease, cognitive abilities must be preserved early in life. Preventive health is a recommended approach to all diseases and especially to brain health. By the way, the positive research results of the Alzheimer's vaccine published this week included a group of patients in the pre-dementia stage and those in the early stages. So, as you mentioned, drinking too much tea is harmful and can even help. Nice week…
Peace
Have studies been published on the effect of green tea, physical activity on the human hippocampus or is the research still focused on mice? The famous operation in 1953, in which the hippocampus of a Pirchusian patient was removed, caused his current memory to disappear, and he lives in the memory of before 1953. Do you see changes in the human hippocampus in relation to the administration of antioxidants? Thanks for revealing the brain mystery. Chechi
Very interesting article.