A one gram drink of black tea may have the potential to stimulate an insulin response and reduce blood sugar levels, suggests new research from England.
The study, a four-way randomised, crossover trial, suggests that Britain's top tipple could have benefits for diabetics to blunt the blood sugar spikes, keeping the body's blood sugar levels relatively steady throughout the day. This has been linked to better regulation of appetite and a reduced tendency to snack.
Researchers from King's College London and the University of Central Lancashire recruited 16 healthy subjects and assigned them to drink 75 grams of glucose in either 250ml of water (control), 250ml of water plus 0.052g of caffeine (positive control) or 250 ml of water plus 1.0 or 3.0 grams of instant black tea.
Writing in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the researchers report that plasma glucose concentrations during the first hour in response to the drinks were not significantly different. However, after two hours plasma glucose concentrations were significantly in the group who consumed 1.0 grams of tea, relative to the control and caffeine drinks.
Moreover, drinking the black tea was associated with increased insulin levels compared with the control and caffeine drinks at 90 minutes.
The health benefits of tea, including protection from certain cancers and Alzheimer's, have been linked to the polyphenol content of the tea. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent.
The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin.
Chemical analysis showed that the tea was rich in polyphenolic compounds (total, 350mg/g).
Bryans and co-workers state that the polyphenol content of the tea was most probably behind the effects. They state that these compounds could have an insulin-stimulating effect on pancreatic B-cells - cells responsible for insulin production.
"It is important to note also that the physiological effects seen in this study were relatively small and were achieved under test conditions.
"Under normal tea drinking conditions before or after food, the presence of other phenolic compounds could potentially alter, or even enhance, the effects seen in our study.
"It is certainly an area of research that warrants further investigation," they concluded.
The global tea market is worth about €790m (£540m, $941m). Green tea accounts for about 20 per cent of total global production, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) accounts for about 78 per cent.
Source: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Volume 26, Number 5, Pages 471-477
"The Effect of Consuming Instant Black Tea on Postprandial Plasma Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Healthy Humans"
Hooray! I have been doing one thing right and I didn't even know I was doing it! I absolutely love tea! It is amazing when you really get into it... like wine tasting... every tea is different, every season is different, it is simply fascinating... and okay, maybe a little nerdy, but there is nothing better than stopping your day to make a pot of tea and sit for a few minutes and reflect on how beautiful life is, despite the bumps in the bumps in the road and the bumps on the ovaries
As I was reading your first post Kora, I was just thinking that generally increasing insulin levels is likely not that desirable in most cases for women with PCOS. There may be more to that story - like diabetic PCOS vs non-diabetic and raising insulin levels with food vs on an empty stomach. I think Tea is thought to have some health benefits (perhaps depending on where you are with caffeine) - so I would be curous to see what other people think about this one.
Even if you decide that black tea is not your cup of tea based on the possibility that it might increase insulin levels (it looks to me like the article is based on one small study) - perhaps you can learn more about various herbal teas - there are some that have ingreadients that are purported to be helpful for various symptoms related to PCOS.
Hey August: I was thinking that this could be bad or good.... hmm, in the end I think it's best to avoid things that raise insulin like sugar, and not go for the black tea. Hhmm... 'tis a tricky one.
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on page 24 of The PCOS Diet Book it says:
"Lmit your tea, coffee, and alcohol intake. This is because coffee, tea, and alcohol raise blood sugar levels, and therefore insulin levels."
Increasing insulin in many of us who are insulin-resistant, makes us put on more weight. I am not sure by how much a cup of black tea would increase insulin levels, but it is statistically significant if it was published. Therefore I would try to avoid black tea and stick with herbal teas instead.
Did some research:... I am not sure by how much a cup of black tea would increase insulin levels, but it is statistically significant if it was published. Therefore I would try to avoid black tea and stick with herbal teas instead.
I certainly hope it isn't much because I refuse to give up one more thing because of PCOS! Is everything I enjoy going to cause PCOS distress? I swear, some days it feels like it!!!
ARTICLE: Black tea shows blood sugar benefits 
