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CLINICAL REVIEW / PEER REVIEWED
The Evidence for Herbal and Botanical Remedies, Part 1
Michael Malone is with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Gary Tsai is with Torrance Memorial Physician Network in California.
The authors reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article, which originally appeared in The Journal of Family Practice (2018;67[1]:10-16).
There have been concerns about potential hepatotoxicity induced by green tea intake.38 However, a systematic review of 34 RCTs on liver-related adverse events from green tea showed only a slight elevation in liver function tests; no serious liver-related adverse events were reported.38 This review suggested that liver-related adverse events after intake of green tea extracts are rare.38
Consuming green tea in the diet may lower the risk for adverse effects since the concentration consumed is generally much lower than that found in extracts.
Contraindications to drinking green tea are few. Individuals with caffeine sensitivities could experience insomnia, anxiety, irritability, or upset stomach. Additionally, patients who are taking anticoagulation drugs, such as warfarin, should avoid green tea due to its vitamin K content, which can counter the effects of warfarin. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcers, or anxiety disorders should use caution with green tea consumption.
The bottom line
Green tea consumption in the diet appears to be safe and may have beneficial effects on weight, dementia, and risk for diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Patients may want to consider drinking green tea as part of a healthy diet, in combination with exercise.
