Green Tea Extract EGCG – Improve Blood Flow Or Not?

Many population studies have shown tea to be associated with improved endothelial function.

A study was jointly conducted by Michael Widlansky from Boston University School of Medicine and DSM Nutritional Products, maker of the Teavigo supplement.

Measurements were taken after an initial dose of EGCG (300 milligrams), 2 hours later, and after 2 weeks of supplementation with EGCG (two 150 milligrams per day).

EGCG was found to improve blood flow measure Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) by 21% 2 hours after the initial 300 milligram dose. However, similar improvements were not observed after the end of the 2 weeks period.

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea Source:
M.E. Widlansky, N.M. Hamburg, E. Anter, M. Holbrook, D.F. Kahn, J.G. Elliott, J.F. Keaney, Jr., and J.A. Vita (2007). Acute EGCG Supplementation Reverses Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. Journal of the American College of Nutrition Volume 26, Number 2, Pages 95-102.