Review Finds Green Tea Extract is Safe for the Liver

Certain green tea extract products have been associated with liver injuries in recent years. A recent review has found that green tea extract is safe for the liver when taken as a supplement.

The researchers examined more than 500 studies that mentioned green tea or green tea extract. Of that initial group, 34 met the criteria for inclusion in the review. The majority of the studies were efficacy studies and six looked at safety specifically. Ten of the studies included healthy participants, seven included obese participants, five included cancer patients, and the remaining 12 studies fell under the “other” category.

Of the 1,405 subjects in all of the studies, only 0.5% showed markers of mild liver stress. Only one case was found where more serious liver damage resulted in stopping the treatment.

Researchers from Clinical Study Support Inc, Tokyo Medical University, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and the University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine, all in Japan, conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on May 18, 2016, in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Green tea has been linked in previous studies with numerous health benefits. These benefits are usually attributed to the high level of powerful antioxidants found in green tea called polyphenols, which have been shown to promote weight loss, improve heart health, aid in digestion and decrease the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.