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. 2020 Sep 17;25(18):4265.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25184265.

Effect of Daily Intake of Green Tea Catechins on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Yoshitake Baba  1 , Shun Inagaki  1 , Sae Nakagawa  1 , Toshiyuki Kaneko  2 , Makaoto Kobayashi  1 , Takanobu Takihara  1
Affiliations

Effect of Daily Intake of Green Tea Catechins on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Yoshitake Baba et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Epidemiological studies in Japan, including the Nakajima study and the Tsurugaya study, have indicated that green tea consumption may improve cognitive impairment. Catechins, which are typical polyphenols contained in green tea, have been reported to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, their impact on human cognitive function remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a double-blind, randomized, controlled study to investigate the effect of 336.4 mg of decaffeinated green tea catechins (GTC) on cognitive function after a single dose and after 12 weeks of daily intake. This study included Japanese adults between the ages of 50 and 69 years with a Mini-Mental State Examination Japanese version score of >24 and self-assessed cognitive decline. The Cognitrax testing battery was used to evaluate cognitive function. The incorrect response rate on the Continuous Performance Test significantly decreased after a single dose of GTC. After 12 weeks of daily GTC intake, the response time for Part 4 of the 4-part Continuous Performance Test, which is a two-back test, was shortened. These results suggest that daily intake of GTC might have beneficial effects on working memory.

Keywords: Cognitrax; catechins; cognitive function; green tea; middle-aged; randomized placebo-controlled trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

As the study sponsor, ITO EN, LTD. covered the test costs and provided the test food. HUMA R&D CORP. conducted subject recruitment, selection, allocation, observation, and data collection. Statistical analyses were conducted by the Kureha Special Laboratory Co., Ltd. Toshiyuki Kaneko was the principal investigator for this study and was contracted by HUMA R&D CORP. to conduct the study. The study was properly implemented by a third party.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum BDNF levels over 12 weeks (W) in the (a) placebo group and (b) catechin group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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