Green tea is mainly known for its health benefits and is becoming the latest fad for weight loss. But, the antioxidant rich tea also has a side effect. People on blood pressure medication may want to reconsider drinking green tea.
According to study by Japanese researchers, the herbal drink hampers the effect of nadolol, a drug used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Nadolol blocks beta receptors that lead to stress responses. The study in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics reported lower circulating blood levels of nadolol in people who drank green tea alongside their medications. In follow-up tests, it was observed that green tea blocks special cell transporters present in the gut lining that help beta blockers or nadolol move into the cells.
The results have only been tested for green tea and if other tea variants also have a similar effect is unclear.
It was known that certain herbal remedies impede with nadolol, green tea however was not in the list. Spokesman for Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a consultant pharmacist in cardiovascular medicine, Sotiris Antoniou suggested that blood pressure patients to keep a gap of at least four hours between green tea and the medicines to get the best of both. He also added that the solution holds true for grapefruit and is not yet tested for green tea.
