Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Tea—The Positive Impact of Tea Consumption on Patients with Autoimmune Diabetes

Abstract

The physiological markers of autoimmune diabetes include functional disorders of the antioxidative system as well as progressing inflammation and the presence of autoantibodies. Even though people with type 1 diabetes show genetic predispositions facilitating the onset of the disease, it is believed that dietary factors can stimulate the initiation and progression of the disease. This paper analyses the possibility of using tea as an element of diet therapy in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Based on information available in literature covering the last 10 years, the impact of regular tea consumption or diet supplements containing tea polyphenols on the oxidative status as well as inflammatory and autoimmune response of the organism was analyzed. Studies conducted on laboratory animals, human patients, and in vitro revealed positive effects of the consumption of tea or polyphenols isolated therefrom on the diabetic body. Few reports available in the literature pertain to the impact of tea on organisms affected by type 1 diabetes as most (over 85%) have focused on cases of type 2 diabetes. It has been concluded that by introducing tea into the diet, it is possible to alleviate some of the consequences of oxidative stress and inflammation, thus limiting their destructive impact on the patients’ organisms, consequently improving their quality of life, regardless of the type of diabetes. Furthermore, elimination of inflammation should reduce the incidence of immune response. One should consider more widespread promotion of tea consumption by individuals genetically predisposed to diabetes, especially considering the drink’s low price, easy availability, overall benefits to human health, and above all, the fact that it can be safely used over extended periods of time, regardless of the patient’s age.

Antioxidative, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Obesogenic, and Antidiabetic Properties of Tea Polyphenols—The Positive Impact of Regular Tea Consumption as an Element of Prophylaxis and Pharmacotherapy Support in Endometrial Cancer

“…The risk of type 1 EC increases if the woman already suffers from obesity, type 2 diabetes and/or insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome [ 7 ]. The physiological markers of all those diseases include functional disorders of the antioxidative system and progressing inflammation [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Chronic hyperglycaemia observed in uncontrolled diabetes intensifies the autooxidation of glucose and the formation of ROS, which in turn leads to micro- and macro-vascular dysfunctions and polyneuropathies caused by the organism’s endogenic antioxidative defences [ 103 ]. The oxidative stress that emerges under those circumstances triggers a range of cellular problems, e.g., structural deformation of lipids, denaturation of proteins, and the disruption of DNA replication mechanisms [ 12 ]. Indeed, the deformation of cellular organelles or even entire cells can take place [ 52 ].…”

“…Even though genetic predispositions are a major factor affecting the incidence of the disease, it is believed that environmental factors, including diet, can stimulate the initiation and progression of diabetes [ 12 ]. Based on preliminary research results, it can be concluded that by introducing tea into the diet, it is possible to alleviate some effects of oxidative stress and inflammation, which helps to limit their destructive impact on the organism of a diabetic patient, thus improving their quality of life, regardless of the particular type of diabetes.…”

“…Diet-dependent factors influencing the development of EC include obesity, type 2 diabetes and/or insulin resistance, as well as metabolic syndrome [ 7 ]. They are all diseases whose physiological markers entail functional disorders of the antioxidant system and progressing inflammation [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Moreover, given the fact that the physiological markers of EC also include antioxidative system disorders and inflammation [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], the primary form of dietary pharmacotherapy supplementation should involve foods rich in substances aiding the organism’s response to this type of disorder, in particular ones that are suitable for lifelong consumption.…”

The Role of Nutritional Factors in the Modulation of the Composition of the Gut Microbiota in People with Autoimmune Diabetes

“…In addition to antigen specificity, an important factor influencing the destruction of pancreatic β cells is the quality of the immune response to islet cell antigens [2]. The genetic factor is crucial in the development of T1DM (most often the presence of human leucocyte antigens HLA, DR3-DQ2, and DR4-DQ8), but environmental factors, including nutrition, stimulate the initiation and progression of the disease [3,4]. T1DM is characterized by disturbances in the efficiency of the antioxidant system, progressive inflammation, and the presence of autoantibodies [3].…”