Green Tea and sleep Apnea

[ProfessorEd]

There is an interesting report on the Life Extension web site (http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2008/0516 ... =0#article)
which I quote below.

The Life Extension Foundation is a non-profit, but one that definitely pushes supplements. I have fund by checking that they accurately report pro-supplement studies (but do not always report on negative studies).

If our machines are controlling our apneas preventing damage to the brain from them will not be an issue. However, for report below may be useful for those with untreated apneas for some reason (no machine yet, a bad setting, a broken machine, a camping trip, etc.) there may indeed be these benefits from green tea Given that the Life Extension Foundation sometimes does not mention negative effects, or counter arguments, anyone who knows of these may wish to post them. I lack access to the full article.

This is the first I had head of “cognitive deficits associated with obstructive sleep apnea “ .Judging from the intelligence of those posting here, I suspect there are relatively few sleep apnea sufferers who have had serious brain damage from the condition, although I assume it is possible. (Hence I suspect the degree of oxygen deprivation the rats were exposed to exceeds that typically found in human sleep apnea).

Here is the quotation:
“The May 15, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published the discovery of researchers at the University of Louisville in Kentucky that the antioxidant property of green tea could help prevent the cognitive deficits associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is periodically interrupted during sleep, temporarily depriving the brain of oxygen. When caused by airway collapse or blockage which obstructs breathing during sleep, the condition is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is associated with architectural changes in brain areas involved with memory and learning, and with neurocognitive deficits that are believed to be caused in part by increased oxidative stress.
University of Louisville Kosair Children’s Hospital Research Institute director David Gozal, MD and his associates intermittently deprived 106 male rats of oxygen during twelve hour cycles, a treatment which has been shown to result in the increased oxidative stress and cognitive deficits observed in human sleep apnea. A control group of animals received regular room air. Green tea catechin polyphenol extract was added to the drinking water of half of the oxygen-deprived rats for a 14 day period. Water maze testing was conducted to evaluate spatial learning and memory, and brain tissue was analyzed for markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Oxygen-deprived rats that received green tea polyphenols performed significantly better on the water maze test than those that received plain drinking water. While the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde doubled in untreated rats that underwent oxygen deprivation compared to control rats, a 40 percent reduction in malondialdehyde was observed in animals that received tea polyphenols.
“A growing body of evidence suggests that the adverse neurobehavioral consequences imposed by intermittent hypoxia (IH) stem, at least in part, from oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling cascades,” Dr Gozal writes.
“Because oxidative processes underlie neurocognitive deficits associated with intermittent hypoxia, the potential therapeutic role of green tea polyphenols in sleep-disordered breathing deserves further exploration,” the authors conclude.

[birdshell]

I would think that neural deficit would be indicated by several well-known effects of apneas and other sleep deprivation. Off the top of my head, the sleep deprivation effects are equated to driving drunk.

So, it all makes some sense, doesn't it? However, I'm a bit skeptical that green tea is the answer! Just as the amount of oxygen deprivation to which the rats were exposed may be inflated, so may be the treatment with the green tea catechin polyphenol extracts. In fact, as I recall that is an often used research design factor meant to accelerate the effects of the condition and the treatment. Of course, this still doesn't mean that the same effects will apply to humans. It does suggest that studies on human beings would be a reasonable next step.

Oxidation in the body is often compared to the rust on metals, which is also oxidation. Thus, maybe those of us in the Rust Belt should spray our cars with green tea?

This is an interesting article. Since green tea seems to be fairly beneficial and pretty harmless, let us drink more green tea!


Thanks, ProfessorEd.

Karen

[NightHawkeye]

So, it all makes some sense, doesn't it? However, I'm a bit skeptical that green tea is the answer! Just as the amount of oxygen deprivation to which the rats were exposed may be inflated, so may be the treatment with the green tea catechin polyphenol extracts.

My own exposure to green tea leads me to believe that it is a mere beverage with mildly curative properties. I find other supplements, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium/magnesium, quercetin, bromelain, cayenne pepper, and fresh fruits and vegetables to be far more curative than green tea. Yet, I've been consuming considerable quantities of green tea over the past year and feel the better for it.

Also, I wish I knew why every single time I've traveled to Asia, I've returned feeling much better than when I left (despite jet lag). My own conclusion is that the food there (primarily organic) is more nutritious than the processed food available in the US, but even that doesn't seem to offer a full explanation.

Regards,
Bill (so many unanswered questions ... )

[birdshell]

Well said, Bill.

I have never been to Asia, but did find that I was healthier after spending three months in England. And, you KNOW the British traditional diet isn't necessarily that much healthier per se. However, there is a vast difference in many ways.

From what I've read about Asian lifestyles, it seems that they eat fewer carbohydrates. Yes, there is white rice; but overall, I would guess that overall the simple or processed carbs are less prevalent in the Asian diet than in the Western general offerings.

I read something about a lack of artificially sweetened pop (soda) helps in weight loss. It makes one wonder, doesn't it? I personally do not prefer sweetened tea, so I've tried to drink more of the tea. Tea doesn't bother my stomach as much as coffee, either.

I still miss the United Kingdom's milk and milk products; and recently, visited friends who have a source of organic milk. MMMMMMM! It was so much closer and tastier...creamy, actually! And, such milk in the tea and coffee is really quite nice and smooth with a better taste as well.

I don't think that green tea can hurt; all tea is supposed to contain the anti-oxidants. One thing I've discovered is that green tea requires some delicate treatment in brewing. The hot water cannot be too hot, i.e. to the boiling point.

Always before I've sought VERY hot water for good tea. I've rinsed the mug or teapot with hot water, even, to ensure the best temperature. The best coffee, IMHO, is also made HOT.

I look forward to any other comments from the forum.

Best,
Karen

[Snoredog]

“A growing body of evidence suggests that the adverse neurobehavioral consequences imposed by intermittent hypoxia (IH) stem, at least in part, from oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling cascades,” Dr Gozal writes.

taking it further, I've said for some time that hypoxia leads to inflammation of the arterial system which leads to clogged arteries. Your body responds to that inflammation with higher cholesterol lipids released by the liver. Reduce the conditions (hypoxia w/cpap) that lead to the inflammation and cholesterol levels go down on their own.

Reason I like my Cardiologist doesn't believe in controlling cholesterol levels with drugs. He believes like I do that if you remove the cause of the inflammation (hypoxia) the oxidative stress is reduced along with the associated inflammation. Inflammation leads to arteriosclerosis and increases risk of stroke and heart disease. Hey I just diagnosed my own cause of stroke, funny how that is.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arteri ... is/DS00525



Hey you are not that ProfessorEd the pathologist guy are you? I know he teaches the same, its where I learned it and he has some neato slides showing the inflammation.

http://www.pathguy.com/

[ProfessorEd]

One speculation as to why people feel better after foreign travel (I got this from an audiobook on walking) is that they frequently get much more exercise as they walk around sightseeing than they do at home). As a result they come home in better shape.

There is a large literature suggesting health benefits from green tea, but most of the effects would not be specific to apnea sufferers.

I am I am an economist by training (MIT) not a pathologist.

[travismcgee]

My comments are based solely on the summary posted by ProfessorEd.

This from the article; "Green tea catechin polyphenol extract". This sounds like a high concentration of green tea catechin. Not having read the whole manuscript I don't know how this concentration compares to say the amount found in a 8 oz. cup of green tea. These concentrations may be equivalent to drinking 40 cups a day for a human. Another question I have is do rats metabolize green tea the same way humans do?

The results aren't really all that robust either:
1). The oxygen deprived no green tea group had twice as much more oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde than the control group (no tea, room air). The physiological significance of this is not addressed.

2). The oxygen deprived green tea group only had a 40% reduction in the amount of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde than the control group (no tea, room air). Although, these rats performed "significantly" better on the maze test we don't know how significant is defined. I am assuming it is some sort of statistical test.

As ProfessorEd pointed out we don't know to what extent oxygen deprivation took place. Also, it is difficult to predict just how much rat behavior can be extrapolated to humans.

It is interesting that the authors linked hypoxia cause to OSA when there are other more significant contributors:

Drowning
Drug overdose
Asphyxiation caused by smoke inhalation
Very low blood pressure
Strangulation
Injuries during birth
Cardiac arrest (when the heart stops pumping)
Carbon monoxide poisoning
High altitudes
Choking
Compression of the trachea
Complications of general anesthesia
Diseases that paralyze the respiratory muscles

I am unaware of green tea being a treatment for any of the above. Based on these findings I am not convinced that green tea is the answer to sleep apnea.

[GreenIce]

Japan is the country, where the population consume the most green tea in the world. I think they do not have to wait for human trial, just get the statistic of how many people in Japan have sleep apnea. That will show if green tea has any benefit at all.

[NightHawkeye]

One speculation as to why people feel better after foreign travel (I got this from an audiobook on walking) is that they frequently get much more exercise as they walk around sightseeing than they do at home). As a result they come home in better shape.

The exercise part is certainly true, but I also spent weeks at a time in Korea among the locals working (without benefit of much exercise - is that a contradiction?) and every trip was rejuvenating. In Seoul especially, with all the pollution, I'd have expected the contrary.

I'm still thinking the farming methods there play a big part in quality of food. I sure can't prove that though. It is easy enough to prove though that a lot of the food here is loaded with additives, steroids, anti-biotics, corn syrup, and all manner of generally unhealthy stuff. I've even read complaints that depleted soil here accounts for a number of nutritional deficiencies.

Somehow, I suspect this is apnea related, as well.

Regards,
Bill

[Goofproof]

I felt better when I came back from Southeast Asia, but I always thought is was because, no-one was trying to shoot me and blow my truck up. Jim

I havn't ate rice in 53 years either.

[roster]

......
This is the first I had head of “cognitive deficits associated with obstructive sleep apnea “ .Judging from the intelligence of those posting here, I suspect there are relatively few sleep apnea sufferers who have had serious brain damage from the condition, although I assume it is possible. ......

Ed, I guess you don't read my posts. There is no doubt my ability to concentrate, remember, analyze many variables at once, spell, read, and other cognitive functions has significantly declined. Because I an slim, my severe osa was undiagnosed for a long time. Rooster

[birdshell]

SOOO true, rooster. Any number of us can attest to that, but then...that is anecdotal. However there is a TON of research out there attesting to the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation of all kinds.

For example, the lack of quality sleep makes a driver equivalent to (or worse than) an alcohol-impaired (drunk) driver.

Here is a site that was sent to me via e-mail to test your memory, and it is related to sleep:


Click to go to: BBC Memory Test

Enjoy!
Karen

[birdshell]

RE: Use of rodents in research

Rats and mice are closely related to humans...and thus, are used for research.

The genomes of both human and mouse have now been sequenced, and they show striking similarity. Estimates of the total number of genes in both genomes are very comparable, ranging from 30,000 to 40,000. It is thought that only about 1 percent of human genes are unique and do not have a mouse counterpart. In addition, mouse genes are on average approximately 85 percent similar in sequence to their human counterparts. Thus, mice and humans are very highly related at the genetic level.

More information is available on the site that is quoted above:

Answers.com on Rodent vs. Human Genomes

Why in the world the site address includes "cat" is up to you to figure out! It is a cat-and-mouse world, isn't it?

Karen

[birdshell]

Honest: I am not trying to hijack this thread!

However, I just had this in my daily collection of e-mails. (All of which sounded like a great subscription idea once.)

Click here for: Green Tea Kills Superbugs

I hope I was drinking green tea during my recent two week antibiotic regime.

Karen

Please stay as well as possible.

[NightHawkeye]

Here is a site that was sent to me via e-mail to test your memory, and it is related to sleep:


Click to go to: BBC Memory Test

OK. I took the test and my temporal memory score was worse than my (Oh dang, I forgot the name) memory score, correlating with "sleep deprivation", but no indication of what's good vs what's bad. .

Regards,
Bill (still drinking Green Tea ... )