The major antioxidant found in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may significantly protect fatty livers after a liver transplant. Fatty livers are more susceptible than lean livers to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is caused by decreased blood flow, and are therefore more susceptible to complications after transplantation.

About one-fifth of the U.S. population suffers from fatty liver, which is associated with obesity. Since fatty livers pose an increased risk of disease and death, the end result is fewer available donors for liver transplants. Close to one-third of donated livers have some sort of fatty changes, but due to longer transplant waiting lists, these compromised organs are sometimes being used.

A past study found that rinsing livers with a green tea-extract solution protected against failures in transplants involving fatty livers. The current study found that EGCG might protect fatty livers from ischemia-related damage during transplantation.

Green Tea Study Details

In the study, mice were given EGCG either orally or by injection. Researchers then performed surgeries to induce ischemia that could damage the rodents' livers. Results showed:

• Mice that received EGCG showed a 100 percent post-surgery survival rate, experienced less liver cell death and retained more viable tissue.

• Mice not given the compound had a 65 percent survival rate.

• EGCG reduced liver fat content by about 55 percent.

Researchers called for further research to explore how ECGC acts to protect fatty livers, but suggested the green tea compound may work by acting as an antioxidant, stimulating the production of additional antioxidants, reducing liver fat content and increasing energy stores.

Liver Transplantation February 17, 2005, Volume 11, Issue 3, pgs. 298-308

Science Blog February 18, 2005