Video

The Number of Women Having Strokes is Rising

Preventative Mastectomy

Cases of Gestational Diabetes Are On the Rise

Nintendo Wii Could Be Therapy for Stroke Victims

Single Men Have An Increased Risk for Stroke

Fatty Foods Could Lead to Stroke in Older Women

Woman Gives Birth After Ovary Transplant

Cancer Foundation Raises Money for Neuroblastoma

Too Much Weight Gain During Pregnancy Could Lead to Diabetes

New CT Scanners Use 90% Less Radiation

Music Education Can Shape a Child's Sensory System

Food Warning Labels Could Help Prevent Choking Hazards

Acupuncture May Relieve Depression in Pregnant Women

The Economy Could Lower Life Expectancy

HPV Can Be Studied On Dolphins

Bones May Suffer From Green Tea Consumption

Posted on 09/17/2009, 09:00
By -- Robert Preidt

Research on mice reveals loss of density and thickness

THURSDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Green tea may weaken bones, suggests a U.S. study on mice.

Obese and lean mice had different amounts of green tea extract -- 0 percent, 1 percent or 2 percent -- added to their diets. Previous studies had found that consumption of the equivalent of 1 percent of the extract decreased the risk of cardiovascular disease in Japanese adults and protected obese mice against fatty liver disease.

After mice in the new study had consumed the experimental diet for six weeks, their bones were analyzed for size, mineral content and architecture. Mice that ate a diet that included green tea extract weighed less than those that did not have the extract added to their food. The difference was more pronounced among obese mice, the researchers noted.

The mineral density of the large bone in the leg, the femur, was not affected by body weight, the study found. However, consumption of green tea extract appeared to reduce femur length, volume, mineral content and cortical thickness. A similar effect was noted in lumbar vertebrae, according to the study published in the October issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

The findings suggest that consumption of green tea extract can cause harmful changes in bone microarchitecture and reduce bone size in growing mice. It's not clear whether similar effects occur in humans, according to the researchers, from Oregon State University and the University of Connecticut.

More information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has more about green tea.

SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition, news release, Sept. 14, 2009

More news in Osteoporosis...

BigHealthTree.com Disclaimer

Bighealthtree.com Does Not Provide Medical Advice. This site, including the above information, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health or medical professional before starting any new treatment, changing existing treatment, or altering your current exercise and/or diet program. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency services in your area) or your doctor immediately.

Rating: 3.1 / 5 (204 votes)