The Protective Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols: Lipid Profile, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Capacity in Rats Fed an Atherogenic Diet and Dextran Sodium Sulfate

Acute and chronic inflammation and dyslipidemia play a critical role in the development of various diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Green tea polyphenols possess potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to the beneficial effects on heart health. The present study was carried out to determine if administration of a green tea extract (Polyphenon (R) E [PPE]; Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) at 0.2% in the diet reduces cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia, inflammation, adiposity, and oxidative stress, in rats fed an atherogenic (high fat, cholesterol, and sugar) diet with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water. DSS treatment increased serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, C-reactive proteins (CRP), and markers of liver toxicity and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol significantly. Adding PPE to the atherogenic diet (PPE-diet) was associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (P < .001) and increased HDL-cholesterol (P = .001). In addition, the PPE-diet was associated with decreased serum CRP concentration (P = .023) and increased total antioxidant capacity (P = .016) and catalase (P = .001) and glutathione peroxidase (P = .050) activities. The PPE-diet significantly lowered epididymal fat pad weight (P = .009). Feeding the PPE-diet also ameliorated some of the DSS-induced lipid, inflammatory, and oxidative symptoms. In summary, green tea supplementation decreased several cardiovascular risk factors, including body composition, dyslipidemia, inflammatory status, and antioxidant capacity, in rats fed an atherogenic diet. This study supports green tea as an effective dietary component for sustaining cardiovascular health.