EFFECT OF GREEN TEA (CAMELLIA SINENSIS) CONSUMPTION ON THE COMPONENTS OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN ELDERLY

Objective: to evaluate the effect of the consumption of green tea on components of MS in the elderly. Design: intervention study. Setting: the sample was selected from the geriatric Service of Hospital Sao Lucas of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Participants: 45 elderly with MS were enrolled and allocated into two groups: green tea group (GTG, n=24), who drank green tea and control group (CG, n=21) without intervention. Intervention: the GTG received sachets of 1.0 g of green tea, and should drink three cups per day for 60 days and the CG was instructed not to make changes in their lifestyle. Measurements: the diagnostic criteria for MS used were the international Diabetes Federation. the lipidic and glycemic profile, and anthropometric measurements were evaluated before and after intervention. Results: there was a statistically significant weight loss only in GTG [71.5 +/- 12.6 kg to 70.3 +/- 12.6 kg (p<0.001)]. A statistically significant decrease in BMI [-0.5 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2) in GTG and -0.2 +/- 0.6 kg/m(2) in CG (P=0.032)] and waist circumference [-2.2 +/- 2.0 cm in GTG and -0.3 +/- 1.8 cm in CG (P=0.002)] were observed. the intake of green tea did not change the biochemical parameters. Conclusion: the consumption of green tea was effective in inducing weight loss, reducing BMI and waist circumference in the elderly with MS.