Goals:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, degenerative joint disease that has a major impact on joint function and quality of life. Green tea has been being used in traditional medicine and there are some evidences that this herb, especially one of its derivatives, epigllocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), may have a role in inflammation and joint destruction. As there is no clinical study regarding the effects of either green tea or EGCG on OA, in this study we assumed to review its clinical effects in patients suffering OA.
Design:
An Interventional study
Participants:
Forty patients were enrolled into this randomized clinical trial. They were divided into two groups, cases and controls. Inclusion criteria: patients of both sexes with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee, in the age group 40 to 75 years, referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz, Iran.
Exclusion criteria: patients with severe osteoarthritis; patients suffering ischemic heart disease or heart failure; patients with renal function impairment; patients with hepatic failure; pregnant women; breastfeeding women; women who stop contraception techniques to become pregnant; patients who had a history of sensitivity to caffeine; patients whose diets are effective for weight loss or gain, and planned to decrease or increase their weight; patients who have recently begun the exercise to protect joints or changing their activity levels; patients treated with alkaline agents, for any reason, who was not able to discontinue their medications; patients treated with warfarin for any reason, that the patient was unable to stop his warfarin; patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; patients who for any reason were not able to express their pain (eg patients with mental retardation or patients with Alzheimer's); patients who did not receive the necessary support for their drugs or they are not likely to be followed (eg, patients who were residents of older people centers ); patients who do not continure the trial: intolerable side effects for the patient (Gastrointestinal side effects such as increased gastric acid secretion, diarrhea or constipation, headache, palpitations, insomnia, irritability, restlessness);discontinuation of drugs consumption for any reason and not to follow treatment for any reason.
Intervention:
At the beginning of the study, WOMAC questionnaire were completed for each patient. Then, cases received 1500 mg/day of green tea leaves plus 100 mg/day diclofenac, while the controls consumed only 100 mg/day diclofenac.
Outcome :
After one month, they were evaluated again, using the WOMAC questionnaire.
Key word: Osteoarthritis, Green tea, Epigllocatechin 3-gallate