Scientists have released a new report confirming that green tea “catechins” penetrate into the tissues of the eye, raising the possibility that green tea may protect against common eye diseases.
Green tea has been safely consumed by humans for thousands of years and is known for its antioxidative activity. While scientists have long thought that green tea catechins could be among several antioxidants capable of protecting the eye – others being vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin – no one knew if they actually made it from the gastrointestinal tract into eye tissues. This study, however, resolves that issue. Chi Pui Pang and his colleagues investigated the uptake and distribution of green tea catechins and have documented how they are absorbed by the lens, retina and other eye tissues.
Their research, outlined in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, shows “without a doubt” that eye structures absorb significant amounts of individual catechins. The scientists conclude that “green tea consumption could benefit the eye against oxidative stress.”
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