Treating Type-2 Diabetes with Tea

Researchers in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry have found an alternative method to treating Type-2 Diabetes using tea extract from Nigeria.

In a six week study, genetically diabetic mice were treated with Africa tea on a daily basis. The combination of the tea treatment and a low-lipid diet siginificantly changed the structure of the fat in the mice eyes and reduced the amount of fat, as well as protected the pancreas.

With human patients, the 23 cases treated showed promising results after four months of being administered 750 mL of tea per day.

After treatment, noted side effects were an increased glucose tolerance and an increase in the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The elevated amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids is advantageous to Type-2 diabetes patients because it promotes glucose absorption from the blood into the cells by causing the cell membranes to be more permeable.

Further research is being performed to weigh the effectiveness of tea treatment for diabetic patients.



url: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505132224.htm



Acacia Ho
vtpp 435, section 502