Evaluation of Insulin, Malondialdehyde and Blood Pressure in Male Obese Individuals in Nnewi and Subsequent Effect of Green Tea Supplementation

Background: Obesity is a major public health issue worldwide, contributing to increased cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, insulin resistance and oxidative stress. This is due to sedentary lifestyles; poor dieting and low consumption of antioxidant supplement (example green tea). The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of fasting blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance blood pressure and MDA in obese subjects and subsequent effect of green tea at 6weeks and 12weeks supplementation.

Methods: This was a cross sectional and interventional study. In the cross sectional study, 88 obese subjects (46 class I and 42 class II obese) and 50 normal weight subjects (control) were recruited. In the interventional study, 20 male obese subjects were randomly selected and were given 200ml of commercially prepared green tea. Fasting blood samples were collected before the intervention (baseline), at 6weeks and 12weeks of intervention and were later analyzed by standard method Enzyme Linked immunoassay and colorimeteric method. It was analysed statistically using SPSS version 23.0.

Results: There were significant increases in the mean levels of HOMA-IR, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting plasma glucose and insulin in obese subjects (class II and class I obese) when compared with control group (P<0.05), likewise in Class II obese when compared with Class I obese (P<0.05) while in the case of MDA, there was a significant increase only in Class II obese subjects when compared with the normal weight subjects (P<0.05). Green tea supplementation significantly reduced the mean level of MDA, fasting plasma glucose, weight, HOMA-IR and blood pressure at 12weeks of intervention while only Insulin and waist circumference were significantly reduced at 6weeks and 12weeks of intervention.

Conclusion: In conclusion, obesity is the major cause of diabetes, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. Green tea could be beneficial to diabetic patients and obese hypertensives. Green tea compounds- phytochemicals could be beneficial as one of the components of their diet.