Remedy · herb
Green tea
Also: Camellia sinensis, green tea catechins, EGCG
The leaves of Camellia sinensis — catechin-rich, with a small but consistent cholesterol-lowering effect.
Evidence by condition
Each grade reflects the research for Green tea and that condition specifically.
- BHigh cholesterol
Lowers LDL and total cholesterol modestly (~4–5 mg/dL) across meta-analyses, with no effect on HDL or triglycerides.
2 citation s
- Green tea catechins decrease total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a systematic review and meta-analysis Meta-analysis 2011 · n=1,415 · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · PMID 22027055 · DOI 10.1016/j.jada.2011.08.015
- Effect of green tea consumption on blood lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Meta-analysis 2020 · n=3,321 · Nutrition Journal · PMID 32434539 · DOI 10.1186/s12937-020-00557-5
- Green tea catechins decrease total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a systematic review and meta-analysis
As a beverage, green tea is safe and its catechins modestly lower LDL and total cholesterol. The caution is with concentrated extract supplements: high-dose EGCG has been linked to rare but serious liver injury, so brewed tea or moderate doses are preferable.