Tea is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. Morocco, Japan, and China have consumed green tea for centuries. White tea, which is a variety of green teas, is very popular in China and is highly revered for its taste. Presently, both teas are consumed in other countries around the world, even as functional ingredients, and novel research is constantly being conducted in these areas. We provide an update on the health benefits of white and green teas in this review, based on recent research done to present. After a general introduction, we focused on tea's anti‐obesity and human health‐promoting potential, adverse effects, and new approaches to tea and its bioactive compounds. It has been found that the health benefits of tea are due to its bioactive components, mainly phenolic compounds. Of these, catechins are the most abundant. This beverage (or its extracts) has potential anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could contribute to body weight control and the improvement of several chronic diseases. However, some studies have mentioned the possibility of toxic effects; therefore, reducing tea consumption is a good idea, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, new evidence will provide insight into the possible effects of tea on the human gut microbiota, and even on the viruses responsible for SARS‐CoV‐2. A beverage such as this may favor beneficial gut microbes, which may have important implications due to the influence of gut microbiota on human health.
28 April 2022 in Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Background: Emerging evidence has shown that vitamin D and magnesium have anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant effects. Dietary intake of magnesium is associated with reduced body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, as well as inflammatory biomarkers and depressive symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to inflammation, obesity, and depressive symptoms. This study will test the effects of vitamin D and magnesium co-supplementation on mood, serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammation, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in obese women. Methods: We will conduct an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in a factorial design, to evaluate the individual effects of vitamin D and magnesium, and co-supplementation of them, on mood, serum level of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in 108 obese women. Discussion: We hypothesize that vitamin D and magnesium co-supplementation may provide a new adjuvant therapy through modulation of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in obese women. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20090822002365N23. Registered on 16 August 2019.