Black tea helps fight diabetes mellitus

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be better off drinking black tea often, a new study published in the July 29, 2010 issue of Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism suggests.

The study found people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who drank black tea extract reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.

The study led by Neyestani T.R and colleagues from Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran was intended to evaluate the possible effects of different daily doses of black tea intake on oxidative stress, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The researchers gave a study group of 23 type 2 diabetics a series of different daily doses of black tea extract, 150,300, 450, and 600 ml of the extract during the weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.  They gave also gave a control group of 23 patients 150 ml of black tea extract daily for four weeks.

The antioxidant capacity was boosted in both groups, the study found.

The study group of diabetics who used four cups of black tea extract a day experienced a significant decrease in  serum c-reactive protein and an increase in the glutathionine level.

The authors concluded that drinking black tea daily helps patients with diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes affects 20 million Americans.  Many cases of the disease can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle including a healthy diet.

Vitamin D is one of the nutrients that have been found protective against diabetes mellitus.

By Jimmy Downs