Green Tea Catechins and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Green tea is a popular recreational drink. Its regular consumption is associated with hepatoprotective benefits in both humans and animals, with beneficial effects attributed to its polyphenolic catechins that mediate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and prebiotic activities. Although most of the evidence is derived from studies in preclinical models, accumulating literature supports that catechin-rich green tea protects against pathogenic responses in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by alleviating oxidative stress, reducing hepatocellular injury and steatosis, and restoring health-promoting gut barrier functions. This chapter discusses complimentary evidence from mechanistic studies in rodent models and in vitro, epidemiological approaches, and controlled trials in humans by which green tea and/or its polyphenolic catechins provide hepatoprotective benefits against obesity-associated NAFLD. Additionally, the safety profile of green tea catechins is discussed while also highlighting critical knowledge gaps that require further study to translate the benefits of green tea into evidence-based recommendations to improve human health.