Green Tea Reduces Pneumonia Risk by Phillip Hogan
A Japanese study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition examined the association between the consumption of
Green Tea and death in humans. The study came about as previous
experimental and animal studies have shown a link between the
activities of catechins, one of the main compounds in Green
Tea, against infectious agents but research into the effects on
humans has been limited.
The study was conducted on 19,079 men and 21,493 women aged
between 40 - 70 years old, all participants being National
Health Insurance beneficiaries in Japan. Participants with a
reported history of cancer, myocardial infarction or a stroke were
excluded from the study as well as participants that had missing
data on the frequency of Green Tea consumption.
Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis, a statistical
survival model in which the affect of a treatment under study has a
measurable result on the participants' survival
rate, was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and the
possible risk of death from pneumonia against Green Tea
consumption.
Over a twelve year follow up, results showed 406 recorded deaths
resulting from pneumonia within the studies participants. Of the
original cohort of participants, 6,033 were lost during the follow
up process.
No significant association was seen in the men within the study
but definite results were seen in the woman. After taking into
account age, physical fitness and other health and dietary
contributing factors a positive association between Green Tea
consumption and reduced risk of pneumonia in women was
identified.
According to the results, drinking just one cup of Green Tea a
day reduced the risk of pneumonia in the Japanese woman,
which dropped by 41% - reduced risk increased with the
consumption of Green Tea.
The results seemed to suggest that compounds contained within
Green Tea have the capability of countering viruses, but
that further study is required in order to determine the exact
compound at work.
The study concluded by drawing a definite association between
Green Tea and reduced risk of pneumonia in Japanese women, although
no affect was seen in the men in the experiment.
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