White Tea: Solution To Obesity Epidemic?

[ladyzman]

Possible anti-obesity effects of white tea have been demonstrated in a series of experiments on human fat cells (adipocytes). Researchers have now shown that an extract of the herbal brew effectively inhibits the generation of new adipocytes and stimulates fat mobilization from mature fat cells.

Marc Winnefeld led a team of researchers from Beiersdorf AG, Germany, who studied the biological effects of an extract of white tea – the least processed version of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. He said, "In the industrialized countries, the rising incidence of obesity-associated disorders including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes constitutes a growing problem. We've shown that white tea may be an ideal natural source of slimming substances".

After treating lab-cultured human pre-adipocytes with the tea extract, the authors found that fat incorporation during the genesis of new adipocytes was reduced. According to Winnefeld, "The extract solution induced a decrease in the expression of genes associated with the growth of new fat cells, while also prompting existing adipocytes to break down the fat they contain".

White tea is made from the buds and first leaves of the plant used to make green tea and the black tea most commonly drunk in Western countries. It is less processed than the other teas and contains more of the ingredients thought to be active on human cells, such as methylxanthines (like caffeine) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) – which the authors believe to be responsible for many of the anti-adipogenic effects demonstrated in their study.

Reference:

Jörn Söhle, Anja Knott, Ursula Holtzmann, Ralf Siegner, Elke Grönniger, Andreas Schepky, Stefan Gallinat, Horst Wenck, Franz Stäb and Marc Winnefeld. White Tea extract induces lipolytic activity and inhibits adipogenesis in human subcutaneous (pre)-adipocytes. Nutrition & Metabolism, (in press)
Adapted from materials provided by Nutrition and Metabolism, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

[thad99]

This would be great news if it all turns out to be true. America is losing its battle with obesity, and it is only going to get worse. People are putting on more and more weight, and at a younger and younger age. It would be great to find anything that can help with losing weight. I always hope that they will find something, but every time i see that they have some bad side effect. Keeps us posted on this exciting new discovery.

[Smitdog]

it would be great but then we would have convince people to take it and that they have a prob

[rad1]

good luck convincing some that there is an issue...

[Spitfire12]

Tea is great and all, but I don't think it is the answer. People need to eat more natural food and drink more water as well as exercising.