Long-term matcha green tea worsens reverse cholesterol transport and fails to prevent diet-induced arteriosclerosis in rabbits (Mol Nutr Food Res 2021)

Original title: Matcha Green Tea Powder does not Prevent Diet-Induced Arteriosclerosis in New Zealand White Rabbits Due to Impaired Reverse Cholesterol Transport

Mol Nutr Food Res · 27 August 2021 · 6

Hunjadi M, Sieder C, Beierfuß A, Kremser C, Moriggl B, Welte R, Kastner C, Mern DS, Ritsch A

Ten female New Zealand White rabbits were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks, with a treatment group additionally receiving 1% matcha green tea powder throughout the experiment. Long-term matcha treatment lowered HDL cholesterol, impaired cholesterol transport as shown by reduced in vitro cholesterol efflux capacity, reduced cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-mediated cholesterol ester transfer between HDL and triglyceride-rich particles, and reduced macrophage-specific in vivo transfer, alongside increased hepatic cholesterol absorption but decreased biliary secretion. Pulse wave velocity, assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance, was increased in matcha-treated animals, with a similar trend for atherosclerotic lesion formation. Long-term matcha green tea treatment of hypercholesterolemic rabbits therefore impairs reverse cholesterol transport and increases vascular stiffness and susceptibility to atherosclerotic lesion development.

Original abstract

Introduction: Green tea is associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Matcha is a special kind of powdered green tea known for its use in the Japanese tea ceremony. Due to its influence on lipoprotein parameters, it has been postulated to exert antiatherogenic effects. This study investigates whether it modulates the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function and thereby influences the atherogenic process in an animal model with a strong influence on humans' situation.

Methods And Results: After a pretreatment phase based on a standard diet, 10 female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits are fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. The treatment group is additionally administered 1% matcha during the whole experiment. Long-term matcha treatment leads to lowered HDL cholesterol, impaired cholesterol transport manifested by reduced in vitro cholesterol efflux capacity, reduced cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-mediated cholesterol ester (CE) transfer between HDL and triglyceride-rich particles, and reduced macrophage-specific in vivo transfer, where ian increased absorption of cholesterol in the liver but a decreased secretion into bile is observed. Pulse wave velocity, assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance, is increased in matcha-treated animals, and a similar trend is observed for atherosclerotic lesion formation.

Conclusion: Long-term matcha green tea treatment of hypercholesterolemic rabbits cause impaired reverse cholesterol transport and increased vascular stiffness, and susceptibility for atherosclerotic lesion development.

Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.