Effects of long-term dietary supplement of tea polyphenols on lipid peroxide levels in rats

We examined the effects of tea polyphenols (TP) on the body weight gain and contents of lipids and lipid peroxides in rat plasma, kidney and liver. The supplementation of TP (0.5% and 1.0%) in the diet was performed from weanling (3 weeks of age) to 19 months old. A significant suppression of body weight gain was observed only at 7–11 weeks of age, but there were no significant changes in liver and kidney weight between control group and TP-feeding group (TP group). Daily food intake of animals in two TP groups was almost the same as the control group.