Green tea may protect bladder from becoming inflamed
Science Daily — Herbal agents could be used to treat inflammatory bladder diseases, according to a preliminary study that looked at the ability of green tea to protect bladder cells from inflammation.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study, being presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, Calif., found that components of green tea protected bladder cells from damage in culture.
Green tea, reported to have many health benefits, is rich in powerful antioxidants that make it a possible remedy for many medical conditions. It is comprised of catechins — plant metabolites that provide it with many anti-oxidative properties.
“We discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide,” said Michael B. Chancellor, M.D., professor of urology and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “Although further studies are needed, these results indicate herbal supplements from green tea could be a treatment option for various bladder conditions that are caused by injury or inflammation.”
In the study, normal and cancerous bladder cells were exposed to two major catechin components of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), for 23 hours. Both significantly protected cell lines from exposure to hydrogen peroxide, which damages or kills cells. The concentrations of EGCG and ECG used in the study were at levels that may be achieved through dietary intake.
Approximately ten million American adults have problems controlling their bladders. Bladder disease affects both men and women and can include incontinence or interstitial cystitis, a chronic inflammatory condition that causes frequent, urgent and painful urination and pelvic discomfort.
Co-investigators of the study include Shelby Morrisroe, M.D., Christian Coyle, Ph.D., Brian Phillips, Ph.D., William de Groat, Ph.D., and Naoki Yoshimura, M.D., Ph.D., all with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The study is Abstract 299 in the AUA proceedings.
The study is funded by the Fishbein Family CURE-IC Program.
Tags: bladder, tea, urology
chinese medicine
green tea
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The challenge with this study is that some patients may assume that they should be drinking green tea when, in fact, green tea is devastating to an injured bladder. It causes tremendous pain, discomfort and an exacerbation of their symptoms due, in all likelihood, to high acid content.
Thus, IC patients beware, do not overinterpret this study. We must wait until a low acid preparation of the green tea extract is available that an IC patient can safely consume!
Jill O.
that’s a very interesting observation… thanks jill for pointing this out
but is there any low acid green tea extract on the market at all?
Unfortunately, there isn’t. This was the one study released via AUA that, I believe, could do more harm than good due to the broad impression that it might be good for all bladder conditions. IC patients already struggle with the perception that cranberry is good. As you know, cranberry has been proven to be helpful in e-coli based infections but, in IC, cranberry has a scouring effect that, like green tea, causes an exacerbation of symptoms and, for some, extreme pain.
Jill