July 9, 2001--
Want cleaner arteries?
You may find therapy in a cup of tea!
A study published today by the American Heart Association shows a strong link between drinking black tea and healthy arteries.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates show us why.
It's a different kind of Boston tea party today as the American Heart Association's journal "Circulation" released new findings from the Boston University School of Medicine.
It shows flavinoids in black tea not only reduce the formation of bad cholesterol but may also improve the actual functioning of the inner linings of blood vessels.
This is the first study which actually looked at the effects of tea on the linings.
JOSEPH VITA, M.D., BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: "WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE DRANK THE EQUIVALENT OF FOUR CUPS OF BLACK TEA PER DAY FOR A MONTH - THAT THE ENDOTHELIUM - THE FUNCTION OF THE ENDOTHELIUM IMPROVED AND BECAME MORE NORMAL."
Here in Salt Lake City, cardiologists caution this is only the first study to make the connection - and more research is needed to confirm or refute the findings.
But Dr. Donald Lappe' says the benefit from flavinoids is real!
DONALD LAPPE' M.D., CHIEF OF CARDIOLOGY, LDS HOSPITAL: "TO HAVE A CUP OF BLACK TEA, A CUP OF RED GRAPE JUICE OR RED WINE - WILL ALL ADD TOGETHER TO BENEFIT. IT MAY NOT TAKE THAT MUCH TO CREATE THIS BENEFIT."
"THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE OF ALL THAT WE CAN DO AND HAVE OUR PATIENTS DO TO PREVENT PROBLEMS."
Dr. Lappe' says within the next several weeks, LDS Hospital will develop a new protocol to help reduce risk even more.
For young people who have no signs of heart disease but have a strong family history for heart attacks, new tests will measure more specific breakdowns of good and bad cholesterol and another amino acid in the blood which may be even more predictive of what might happen later on.
The goal on a risk scale of one to ten-- to move people completely out of the red into the green low risk or NO risk portions of the chart.
The most effective preventives still include the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins and an aspirin a day.
Dr. Lappe' says when these drugs are then used along with exercise and diet, the foods we eat or drink, the risk of a heart attack for many becomes almost negligible.
