Study Says EGC in Green Tea Promotes Bone Growth
Lee Swanson Research Update
A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that green tea may promote bone health. Clinicians believe green tea contains unique chemicals that can stimulate the bone formation process, thereby reducing its breakdown.
Researchers from the Institute of Chinese Medicine and the Chinese University of Hong Kong exposed osteoblasts (cells that form bones) to three main green tea components: epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin (GC) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG).
The team reported that EGC stimulated the activity of a major enzyme that increased bone growth by up to 79%. Furthermore, EGC “significantly increased” bone mineralization.
The trial also revealed that high amounts of EGC blocked the activity of a type of osteoclast that is responsible for weakening bones.
In terms of overall health, the study affirmed that EGC has a positive dual-effect on bones by promoting osteoblast activity and inhibiting osteoclasts. Thus, green tea may be beneficial for those concerned about osteoporosis or other bone diseases.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57(16):7293-7297, 2009