Long-term effects of green tea ingestion on atherosclerotic biological markers in smokers

Objectives: Smoking is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and triggers vascular injury by platelet aggregation and induces atherosclerosis through induction of oxidative stress. Green tea is known to have antioxidant capacity and anti-platelet activity. Design and methods: Twenty adult male smokers ingested 600 mL of green tea for 4 weeks. Their lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), total antioxidant capacity, oxidized LDL, soluble VCAM-1, soluble ICAM-1, and soluble P-selectin were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after green tea ingestion. Results: Plasma soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) levels decreased significantly after 2 and 4 weeks of green tea ingestion compared with those before green tea ingestion (P< 0.001). Plasma concentrations of oxidized LDL decreased significantly after green tea ingestion (P< 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest the effect of green tea on sP-selectin and oxidized LDL.