Green tea catechins and UVR-induced inflammation

What is it about?

There is great interest in the potential health benefits of green tea which is drunk worldwide. Experimental models have shown that catechins in green tea have anti-inflammatory properties and can proect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced skin inflammation. Through a randomised placebo-controlled trial, we tested the ability of an oral supplement containing green tea catechins to protect against UVR-induced inflammation in healthy human volunteers. We found no impact of green tea on protection from erythema, leucocyte infiltration or bioactive lipid (eicosanoid) production.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that in a randomised placebo-controlled trial in mixed-sex healthy human volunteers, oral green tea catechins did not have a statistically significant effect on the skin response to actue proinflammatory UVR challenge. Further studies might examine dose effects, impact on other inflammatory markers and skin content of green tea catechins and metabolites.