Theaflavin | vital.ly

Theaflavin

Alternate names: Teaflavina, Théaflavin, Théaflavine, Theaflavin-3-gallate, Theaflavin-3'-gallate, Theaflavin-3-3'-digallate, Theaflavins

Background

Theaflavin is a chemical in black tea that is formed from fermentation of green tea. It is used as medicine.

People take theaflavin for high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia), heart disease, obesity, and cancer, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Theaflavin is LIKELY SAFE in the amounts found in brewed black tea. Theaflavin is POSSIBLY SAFE in the amounts found in medicine when used for up to 12 weeks.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information available to know if theaflavin is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Effectiveness

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions

High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia).Early research shows that taking a green tea extract with extra theaflavin seems to help reduce cholesterol.
Heart disease.
Cancer.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of theaflavin for these uses.

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of theaflavin depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for theaflavin. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Theaflavin might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking theaflavin along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. But more evidence is needed to know if this interaction is a big concern. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Medications moved by pumps in cells (Organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are moved by pumps in cells. Theaflavin might change how these pumps work and decrease how much of some medications get absorbed by the body. This could make these medications less effective.

Some of these medications that are moved by pumps in cells include bosentan (Tracleer), celiprolol (Celicard, others), etoposide (VePesid), fexofenadine (Allegra), fluoroquinolone antibiotics, glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta), irinotecan (Camptosar), methotrexate, nadolol (Corgard), paclitaxel (Taxol), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), rifampin, statins, talinolol, torsemide (Demadex), troglitazone, and valsartan (Diovan).

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Theaflavin might lower blood sugar levels. Taking it along with other herbs that lower blood sugar might lower blood sugar too much. Herbs that might lower blood sugar include devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, and Siberian ginseng.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Theaflavin has antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-cancer effects in test tube experiments and in animals. Theaflavin might also normalize blood sugar levels. The effects of theaflavin in humans are not well studied.

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This monograph was last reviewed on 30/04/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 26/12/2012 18:30:52. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.

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