Key result
Black tea increases circulating kynurenine by ~0.48 μmol/L vs caffeine-matched control.
Why the study?
The effects of regular black tea consumption on tryptophan and neopterin metabolisms in vivo and their relation to immune activation biomarkers were unclear.
Does regular black tea consumption alter serum concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine, and neopterin in healthy individuals?
RCT (n=94)
randomly assigned
Does regular black tea consumption alter serum concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine, and neopterin in healthy individuals?
Regular black tea consumption increases circulating kynurenine and the KYN/TRP ratio, suggesting enhanced tryptophan breakdown and potential immune system modulation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Black tea may modulate tryptophan metabolism in healthy adults; extends in vitro flavonoid effects but leaves CV outcome implications open.
BACKGROUND: Circulating neopterin and the ratio of kynurenine to tryptophan (KYN/TRP) concentrations are biomarkers of immune activation that have been linked to cardiovascular and total mortality. Several in vitro studies indicated that tea flavonoids and other antioxidants can modulate tryptophan breakdown rates and neopterin production in immune cells. We aimed to assess the effects of regular black tea consumption on tryptophan and neopterin metabolisms in vivo. METHODS: Participants were healthy individuals, with no major illnesses and having normal to mildly elevated systolic blood pressure. They were randomly assigned to consume 3 cups/day of either powdered black tea solids (tea; n = 45) or a flavonoid-free caffeine-matched beverage (control; n = 49). Serum concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine and neopterin were assessed at baseline and again at 3 and 6 months after daily ingestion of the respective beverage. RESULTS: Regular consumption of tea over 6 months, compared to control, did not significantly alter neopterin (p = 0.13) or tryptophan (p = 0.85) concentrations, but did result in significantly higher kynurenine (p = 0.016) and KYN/TRP (p = 0.012). Relative to the control group, in the tea group kynurenine and KYN/TRP increased during the treatment period by 0.28 μmol/L (95% CI: - 0.04, 0.60) and 3.2 μmol/mmol (95% CI: - 1.6, 8.0), respectively at 3 months, and by 0.48 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.16, 0.80) and 7.5 μmol/mmol (95% CI: 2.5, 12.5), respectively at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Increased circulation of kynurenine and KYN/TRP following regular black tea consumption may indicate enhanced tryptophan breakdown, possibly due to immune activation-induced tryptophan degrading enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The influence of black tea consumption on biomarkers of immune system activation could relate to its general health benefits. Data suggests that the net effect strongly depends on the individual immune state, being stimulatory in healthy individuals, while acting more immune dampening in situations with an inflammatory background.
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Gostner et al. (2014) conducted an RCT in Healthy individuals with normal to mildly elevated systolic blood pressure (n=94). Black tea vs. Flavonoid-free caffeine-matched beverage was evaluated on Kynurenine concentration at 6 months (MD 0.48, 95% CI 0.16, 0.80, p=0.016). Regular consumption of black tea over 6 months significantly increased circulating kynurenine concentrations by 0.48 μmol/L (95% CI 0.16-0.80; p=0.016) compared to a caffeine-matched control.
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