Green tea (2017, 2008) may protect against Sjogren's syndrome

Learn more about Sjogrens treatment and information.

2017

Green tea extract improves meibomian gland function which, while probably not protecting against the cause of Sjogren's may help relieve symptoms.

Nejabat, M., Reza, S.A., Zadmehr, M., Yasemi, M., Sobhani, Z. (2017). Efficacy of Green Tea Extract for Treatment of Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study. J Clin Diagn Res, Feb;11(2):NC05-NC08.

2008

Green tea extract could help prevent the development of Sjogren's syndrome.

In Sjogren's the salivary and tear glands are invaded by a type of white blood cell, rendering them less effective. Researchers investigated whether and how a green tea component, polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), strengthens normal human salivary acinar cells. They studied the effect of the compound in mice and found that those that received an oral green tea extract experienced significantly less damage to their salivary glands, with reduced lymphocyte infiltration, as well as lower blood total auto-antibody levels, compared to those that did not receive the compound.

The researchers suspect that EGCG activates our defense system against a protein produced by the white blood cells during inflammation, and which causes cell-death. "The salivary gland cells treated with EGCG had much fewer signs of cell death caused by TNF-alpha," Dr. Hsu observed. "We don't yet know exactly how EGCG makes that happen. That will require further study. In some ways, this study gives us more questions than answers."

Gillespie, K., Kodani, I., Dickinson, D.P., et al. (2008). Effects of oral consumption of the green tea polyphenol EGCG in a murine model for human Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease. Life Sci, Oct 24;83(17-18):581-588.