The combination of taurine and tea polyphenols can be used to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Taking taurine and tea polyphenols (TP) in tandem shows promise as a new, alternative, and effective treatment for patients afflicted with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Chinese researchers reported that the combination reduces hepatocyte damage, counteracts oxidative stress, increases lipid metabolism, and improves gut flora.

The General Hospital of People’s Liberation Army supported this study. Its research team published their results in the scientific journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Lab rats were separated into a control group, a group with high-fat diets that induced NASH symptoms, and a treatment group. Members of the treatment group received either taurine, tea polyphenols, or a combination of taurine and TPs for eight weeks. The trial lasted for a total of 12 weeks.
• At the end of the trial, the rats were sacrificed. Their serum transaminase, lipid levels, lipopolysaccharide levels, and hepatic oxidative stress levels were measured. Researchers also assessed any histological changes that took place.
• Rats with high-fat diets showed damaged hepatocytes, disturbed lipids, oxidative stress, and high levels of lipopolysaccharide.
• Rats that received taurine showed reduced damage to hepatocytes and lower oxidative stress. The subjects that took tea polyphenols displayed better lipid metabolism and higher levels of antioxidant activity in the liver.
• Compared to animals that received only either taurine or tea polyphenols, rats treated with the taurine-TP combination experienced the best results in terms of hepatocyte health, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant activity.

As there is no pharmaceutical drug that can safely and effectively treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the researchers suggested that the combination of taurine and tea polyphenols can serve as a remedy for this progressive liver disease.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Find more natural compounds that improve the symptoms of NASH at Nutrients.news.

Journal Reference:

Zhu W, Chen S, Chen R, Peng Z, Wan J, Wu B. TAURINE AND TEA POLYPHENOLS COMBINATION AMELIORATE NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS IN RATS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;17(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1961-3.