A randomized double blind study of a green and black tea agent, AssuriTEA®, in healthy male subjects.

Background: Green and black teas have known anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study was a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study of 3 doses of a water-extracted green and black tea agent (AssuriTEA ® [AT]). Methods: Subjects who met inclusion criteria were randomized to one of four groups: 1000, 500, or 250 mg AT or placebo for 28 days. At baseline (BL) and day 28, serum antioxidant capacity, quality of life and safety were assessed.  Results: Of the 55 subjects screened, 43 were considered evaluable. Age was 56.77 ± 2.83 years (mean ± SEM).  Evaluable subjects demonstrated improved antioxidant status, as measured by ferric iron reducing antioxidant power at all doses over the placebo (p < 0.05). There was significant improvement in cellular antioxidant protection in the 1000 mg AT group versus the placebo (p=0.032).  Glucose levels were higher in the placebo group versus the 250 mg AT group (p=0.023) and there was a significant improvement in systolic blood pressure in the 250 mg AT group at day 28 versus BL (p=0.048).  In the 1000 mg AT group, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure at day 28 versus BL (p=0.017).  There was a significant improvement in the vitality category in the 1000 mg AT group (p=0.029). Overall, AT was safe and well tolerated with no differences in adverse events or serum chemistries between groups.  Conclusions: Results demonstrate that the administration of AT resulted in improvement of serum antioxidant status, vitality level, blood glucose, and systolic blood pressure in test subjects.  Key Words: Green tea, black tea, Camellia sinensis , antioxidant status, blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, and quality of life