The effect of green tea and sour tea on glycemic indices and lipid profile in athletes with type 2 diabetes (T2DM)

INTRODUCTION: Traditional herbals including different types of tea have different antioxidants such as polyphenols that have probable effects on preventing and treatment of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of sour tea and green tea on glycemic indices and lipid profile in TSDM athletes. METHODS: The present study was a randomized clinical trial in which 80 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned into green tea group (GT), sour tea group (ST), green tea + sour tea (GST), and routine black tea (BT), as controls. But 68 participants completed the study. They were instructed to drink green tea/ sour tea bags, two times a day 2 hrs. after each meal for 6 weeks. The levels of FBS, HbA1C, TG, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol were measured before and after intervention. The participants were on their regular diet, medicine and physical activity in the study. RESULTS: The levels of FBS in GT and GST groups statistically decreased at the end of the study; it decreased from 189 ± 55 to 134 ± 67 mg/dl in GT group (p≤ 0.01), and from 224 ± 72 to 166 ± 58 mg/dl in GST group (p≤ 0.01), respectively. There were any significant changes in HbA1C in different groups. Among the lipid profile only TG decreased significantly in GST group; from 386 ± 120 to 312 ± 85 mg/dl. There were any significant changes in FBS, HbA1C, TG, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that consumption of two glasses of green or sour tea daily for 6 weeks by diabetic athletes maybe improve glycemic indices and lipid profile but this hypothesis needs doing more research to be approved.

green tea, sour tea