Effect of Tea on Endothelial Function and Ischaemia-reperfusion Injury

Rationale: Occlusion of an artery (causing ischemia) is a frequently reported condition, e.g. myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction or during organ transplantations. The period of ischemia will be followed by reperfusion (possibly after an operation). The ischaemic period as well as the reperfusion are both associated with damage to the tissue, including the endothelium. It is hypothesised that production of oxidative stress and reduced NO bioactivity (through increased reactive oxygen production) during ischaemia and reperfusion is involved in the development of tissue damage to the endothelium. Interventions that can prevent or attenuate endothelial dysfunction in response to ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-injury have a potential clinical relevance to prevent (complications of) cardiovascular disease.

Several studies have examined the effect of tea consumption on the endothelial function. These studies demonstrated a dose-dependent improvement of tea to improve endothelial function in healthy and diseased humans, possibly through the vasoactive effects of flavonoids, which may involve increased nitric oxide bioactivity and inhibition of NADPH oxidase. Based on the ability of flavonoids to decrease (the impact of) oxidative stress, tea consumption may also impact upon the decrease in endothelial function after IR-injury. However, no previous study directly examined the potential of tea to impact upon the change in endothelial function after IR-injury.

Objective: To examine whether tea consumption counteracts endothelial damage in response to ischaemia reperfusion injury in healthy humans.

Main study parameters: Change in endothelial function (measured with flow mediated dilation) after ischaemia reperfusion injury (induced by 20 minutes ischemia and 20 min reperfusion) with and without precedence of tea consumption.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Non-invasive cuff occlusion is used to examine endothelial function (5-minute ischaemia) and produce the stimulus that induces ischaemia-reperfusion injury (20-minute ischaemia). This repeated cuff inflation is non-invasive and not associated with a health risk for the subject. Tea consumption is safe and, most likely, daily routine for most participants. The only difference is that this study will monitor and instruct participants regarding their tea consumption in the week preceding the tests. The volunteers will not benefit directly from participating in this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy volunteers : age 18-60
• All subjects: written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking
• History of any cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension (in supine position: systole >140 mmHg, diastole >90 mmHg)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Hyperlipidaemia (fasting total cholesterol >6.5 mmol/L)
• Chronic use of medication known to interfere with the cardiovascular system
• Professional athletes
• Alcohol consumption >14 units/week
• BMI >30 kg/m2