No proof Earl Grey can fight heart disease

Conclusion This animal experiment indicated that the bergamot extract HMGF may have cholesterol-lowering effects similar to that of the commonly used statin, simvastatin, when given to mice with high cholesterol levels that were fed high cholesterol diets for three weeks. The main limitation of the study was that none of the research involved humans. Therefore, it is not possible to say the bergamot extract would work the same way in humans, unless directly tested. Furthermore, this rat study tested a pure extract rather than tea containing the extract, the effects of which may be different. For instance, taking milk in tea could potentially affect how the extract is metabolised in the body compared to a pure extract. The headlines indicated Earl Grey tea could help fight heart disease, but based on the underlying research study only, there is little evidence for that. Also the study made no assessment of the long-term health benefits of the reductions in cholesterol in the rats. For example, the effects may have been temporary. There needs to be more robust research in humans to find out if bergamot extract holds any real promise in lowering cholesterol levels and so fighting cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and strokes in the future. We would not want anyone to think this research is a reason to stop taking statins and replace them with drinking tea containing bergamot extract; this could potentially be dangerous. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medication Food/diet Source Type: news