Black-tea polyphenols decrease micellar solubility of cholesterol in vitro and intestinal absorption of cholesterol

Ikuo Ikeda1, Takashi Yamahira, Masaki Kato

  • 1Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Department of Food Function and Health, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 981-8555, Japan. iikeda@biochem.tohoku.ac.jp

Summary

Black-tea polyphenols (BTP) significantly reduce cholesterol absorption in rats by decreasing micellar cholesterol solubility. Specific theaflavins within BTP are key to this cholesterol-lowering effect.

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