Twelve weeks of consuming 1,000 mg per day of Kemin’s patent-pending polyphenol blend of select catechins and theaflavins called AssuriTEA was found to reduce American Urologic Association symptom scores by 34.5% in men aged 30–70, according to findings published in Therapeutic Advances in Urology.
The study also found that the tea extract blend showed decreases in post-void residual volume, increases in average urinary flow rate, and improvements in quality of life as well as moderation of inflammation.
“This study is significant because it is the first of its kind to show the measurable, urological benefits of combining specific quantities of catechins and theaflavins,” said Aaron Katz, M.D., chairman of urology at Winthrop University Hospital, and lead researcher on the study.
“LUTS is one of the most common urologic conditions, affecting a majority of adult men as they age. Currently, some of the alternative nutritional-based approaches for managing men’s urinary function and comfort lack supporting scientific evidence.”
The ingredient
AssuriTea Men’s Health is the third product released under Kemin’s AssuriTea brand and follows the September 2010 launch of AssuriTea Wellbeing, and AssuriTeaGreen, launched in July 2011.
The ingredient targets the men's health market, which includes a wide range of urologic health including prostate, urinary tract and bladder health. Information from Euromonitor and NBJ indicate that the market is estimated at around $500 million.
The ingredient, affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for certain food and beverage applications, is generally suitable for use in international markets, said the company.
Study details
Dr Katz and his collaborators from New York University and Kemin Foods recruited 46 men with an American Urologic Association symptom score (AUAss) of at least 8 and up to 24. The men were randomly assigned to 500 mg or 1,000 mg per day of the tea extract blend, or placebo for 12 weeks.
Results showed that the AUAss decreased 34.5% from baseline values in the 1,000 mg group. In addition, an increase in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, increased in both the placebo and lower dose tea group, but not in the 1,000 mg group.
Urine flow increased in both tea groups, compared with placebo, they added.
Jeff Flora, president of the human nutrition and health division of Kemin, said: “We are excited about the publication of the men’s health clinical study, which validates the hard work and comprehensive research on this unique, patent-pending ingredient.
“Improving urinary health is a top concern of older males, and we believe men can continue to enjoy an active lifestyle and maintain their quality of life using products that contain our AssuriTEA nutritional ingredient.”
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Urology
Published online ahead of print, doi: doi: 10.1177/1756287214526924
“A green and black tea extract benefits urological health in men with lower urinary tract symptoms”
Authors: A. Katz, M. Efros, J. Kaminetsky, K. Herrlinger, D. Chirouzes, M. Ceddia