EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM DIETARY-SUPPLEMENT OF TEA POLYPHENOLS ON LIPID PEROXIDE LEVELS IN RATS

We examined the effects of tea polyphenols (TP) on the bodyweight gain and contents of lipids and lipid peroxides in rat plasma, kidney and liver. The supplementation of TP (0.5% and 1.0%) in the diet was perfo rmed from weanling (3 weeks of age) to 19 months old. A significant su ppression of body weight gain was observed only at 7-11 weeks of age, but there were no significant changes in liver and kidney weight betwe en control group and TP-feeding group (TP group). Daily food intake of animals in two TP groups was almost the same as the control group. In the older rats (13-19 months of age), thiobarbituric acid reactive su bstances(TBARS) in the plasma in 1.0% TP group were significantly lowe r than that of the control group (p<0.01). The contents of plasma lipi ds (triglyceride, total cholesterol, and phospholipid) in 1.0% TP grou p at 19 months old were significantly lower as compared with the contr ol group (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation in an age group 13 -19 months old between these lipid contents and TBARS. These results s uggest that long-term dietary supplementation of TP caused the decreas e of plasma TBARS, mainly due to the hypolipidemic activity and antiox idative effect of TP in vivo.