New Delhi: Green tea supplement lovers might want to take note of this - consuming high doses of supplements containing green tea extracts may cause liver damage, warns a new study. According to new research conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), taking more than 800mg of green tea catechins per day may lead to higher health risks, including liver damage. However, the researchers, who analysed the safety of green tea supplements from dietary sources, could not yet determine a dosage that would be entirely safe.
Catechins are substances naturally found in green tea, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. These antioxidants are linked to a variety of health benefits, including weight loss, the maintenance of cardiovascular health, and the reduction of cancer risk. You can get catechins by taking supplements that contain green tea extracts or drinking a glass of green tea. The Parma-based EFSA said that while most supplements contain up to 1,000 mg, tea infusions typically only contain 90 to 300 mg of antioxidants. According to the study, instant tea drinks are safe since they contain lower levels of the antioxidants naturally present in green tea.
The researchers determined that taking too many of these antioxidants can be harmful, which is why the amount contained in supplements can have a negative effect on the liver. The EFSA conducted the research amid fears of catechins bearing harmful effects on the liver, prompted by an array of cases in Norway, reported the Daily Mail.
“The few cases of liver damage reported in humans [from infusions] are likely due to rare and unpredictable reactions,” EFSA said.
The EU watchdog, whose advice has been sent to the European Commission, also called for further scientific trials into the effect of green tea catechins.