Catechin intake might explain the inverse relation between tea consumptionand ischemic heart disease: the Zutphen Elderly Study

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that tea consumption may reduce t he risk of cardiovascular diseases, but results are inconsistent. Catechins , which belong to the flavonoid family, are the main components of tea and may be responsible for the alleged protective effect. Taking catechin sourc es other than tea into account might clarify the reported associations, Objective: The objective was to evaluate the association between catechin i ntake and the incidence of and mortality from ischemic heart disease and st roke. Design: We evaluated the effect of a high catechin intake by using data fro m the Zutphen Elderly Study, a prospective cohort study of 806 men aged 65- 84 y at baseline in 1985. Results: The mean (+/- SD) catechin intake at baseline was 72 +/- 47.8 mg, mainly from black tea, apples, and chocolate. A total of 90 deaths from isc hemic heart disease were documented. Catechin intake was inversely associat ed with ischemic heart disease mortality; the multivariate-adjusted risk ra tio in the highest tertile of intake was 0.49 (95% CI: 0.27 0.88; P for tre nd: 0.017). After multivariate adjustment, catechin intake was not associat ed with the incidence of myocardial infarction (risk ratio in the highest t ertile of intake: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.26; P for trend: 0.232). After adju stment for tea consumption and flavonol intake, a 7.5-mg increase in catech in intake from sources other than tea was associated with a tendency for a 20% reduction in ischemic heart disease mortality risk (P = 0.114). There w as no association between catechin intake and stroke incidence or mortality . Conclusion: Catechins, whether from tea or other sources, may reduce the ri sk of ischemic heart disease mortality but not of stroke.