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[john1960]

Hey everyone.

 

So Im interested in taking Green tea extract or drinking the tea itself for its beneficial health qualities.

 

A major concern of mine though is, there are multiple studies pointing to the fact that EGCG (main polyphenol in GTE) is a direct antagonist of the androgen receptor.  This has me worried about the implications this may have on libido etc. Well everything to do with androgen action really.

One study this is clearly pointed out in http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC3058706/

Androgen deprivation therapy is the major treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PCa). However, it is a temporary remission, and the patients almost inevitably develop hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). HRPC is almost incurable, although most HRPC cells still express androgen receptor (AR) and depend on the AR for growth, making AR a prime drug target. Here, we provide evidence that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol in green tea, is a direct antagonist of androgen action.


So my question: does egcg block androgen action regardless of circumstance? Or does it do so in an adaptogenic/specific way, only under certain, say, inflammatory circumstances?

 

The only caveat with all those studies, like the above mentioned one, is that they are all done under inflammatory circumstances (tumors, cancers etc)..

 

Does anyone know of any studies that show green tea to not effect androgen receptors in normal healthy circumstances but only in inflammatory (hairloss,acne, cancers) circumstances?
 

Thanks in advance to anyone in the know!!

[aconita]

I guess there are a couple of things to keep in consideration.

 

EGCG are very poorly bioavailable and don't last very long in the blood.

 

"When taken orally, EGCG has poor bioavailability even at such a high amount of daily intake equivalent to 8-16 cups of tea (800 mg), a dose causing mild adverse effects, such as nausea or heartburn.^[5] After consumption, EGCG blood levels peak within 1.7 hours, then are excreted into the urine over 3-15 hours.^[6]"

 

https://en.wikipedia...atechin_gallate

 

Given that they may have an androgen receptor antagonist effect it will be of quite short duration and mild unless one is constantly drinking green tea in huge amounts non-stop.

 

A rebound effect will probably take place leading to an increased androgen receptors sensitivity and/or increased testosterone levels.

 

I am unable to link the paper now (I can't remember where I did find it) but Chinese researchers are investigating exactly these rebound effects of hormones, if I am not wrong right on testosterone: suppressing it for a given time frame will lead to much long lasting effect of increased levels.

 

It is proposed as an alternative therapeutic way to increase androgen hormones.

 

Mao Tse-tung  was a well known avid green tea consumer and at the same time an insatiable sex addict, if it may help.

 

Interestingly onions are mentioned as a source of EGCG but are well known to raise testosterone levels up to 300% (in subjects with low testosterone/hypogonadism).

 

I am not suggesting green tea as a mean of raising androgens but to be prudent before assuming conclusions that may look logical on paper.