Black Tea Increases Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Improves Flow Mediated Dilatation Counteracting Deleterious Effects from a Fat Load in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study
by
Davide Grassi 1,*
, Richard Draijer 2, Casper Schalkwijk 3, Giovambattista Desideri 1, Anatolia D’Angeli 1, Sandro Francavilla 1, Theo Mulder 2 and Claudio Ferri 1
Davide Grassi 1,*, Richard Draijer 2, Casper Schalkwijk 3, Giovambattista Desideri 1, Anatolia D’Angeli 1, Sandro Francavilla 1, Theo Mulder 2 and Claudio Ferri 1
1
Department of Life, Health, and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Viale S Salvatore, Delta 6 Medicina, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
2
Unilever Research and Development, 3133 AT Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
3
Department of Internal Medicine, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2016, 8(11), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8110727
Received: 13 September 2016 / Revised: 3 November 2016 / Accepted: 7 November 2016 / Published: 16 November 2016
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidants in Health and Disease)
(1) Background: Endothelial dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events. Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) maintain and repair the endothelium regulating its function. Tea flavonoids reduce cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of black tea on the number of CACs and on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after an oral fat in hypertensives; (2) Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled, cross-over study, 19 patients were assigned to black tea (150 mg polyphenols) or a placebo twice a day for eight days. Measurements were obtained in a fasted state and after consuming whipping cream, and FMD was measured at baseline and after consumption of the products; (3) Results: Compared with the placebo, black tea ingestion increased functionally active CACs (36 ± 22 vs. 56 ± 21 cells per high-power field; p = 0.006) and FMD (5.0% ± 0.3% vs. 6.6% ± 0.3%, p < 0.0001). Tea further increased FMD 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after consumption, with maximal response 2 h after intake (p < 0.0001). Fat challenge decreased FMD, while tea consumption counteracted FMD impairment (p < 0.0001); (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated the vascular protective properties of black tea by increasing the number of CACs and preventing endothelial dysfunction induced by acute oral fat load in hypertensive patients. Considering that tea is the most consumed beverage after water, our findings are of clinical relevance and interest.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Grassi, D.; Draijer, R.; Schalkwijk, C.; Desideri, G.; D’Angeli, A.; Francavilla, S.; Mulder, T.; Ferri, C. Black Tea Increases Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Improves Flow Mediated Dilatation Counteracting Deleterious Effects from a Fat Load in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients 2016, 8, 727.
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