Reference
Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi B, Afkhami-Ardekani M, Fatehi F. The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on lipid profile and lipoproteins in patients with Type II diabetes. J Altern and Comp Med. 2009;15(8):899-903.
Design
Fifty-three patients (45 women and 8 men) with diabetes were studied in a randomized controlled clinical trial and assigned into two groups: sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and black tea. Patients were instructed to consume one glass of the decoction (two spoonfuls of blended tea in a sachet weighing 2 g, placed in one glass of boiled water and boiled for 20–30 minutes) with 5 g sugar, twice daily; they also were instructed not to drink any other types of tea during the study. Tea consumption was continued for 1 month. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and after intervention, testing HDL, LDL, triglycerides, Apo-A1, Apo-B1-00, and Lp(a). 20.8% of the patients were only on diet therapy for their diabetes and the rest were either on insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.
Key Findings
Hibiscus consumption reduced most of the lipids and lipoproteins and increased HDL, but black tea consumption only increased HDL.
Hibiscus consumption reduced most of the lipids and lipoproteins and increased HDL, but black tea consumption only increased HDL. The sour tea group averaged a 7.6% decrease in total cholesterol, 8.0% decrease in LDL, 14.9% decrease in triglycerides, 3.4% decrease in Apo-B100, 16.7% increase in HDL, 4.2% increase in Apo-A1, and no change in Lp(a). The black tea group averaged a 13% increase in HDL but did not see a significant change in other measures.
Commentary
Previous studies have been done on Hibiscus and dyslipidemia. Lin, et al, showed that drinking Hibiscus tea for 4 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 8.3%–14.4%.1 Animal studies have shown that rats with diabetes had a positive effect with Hibiscus on glucose and lipids.2 I reported on the effectiveness of Hibiscus tea in reducing systolic blood pressure in a recent column.3
Hibiscus sabdariffa, or sour tea, is used in many parts of the world to make both cold and hot drinks. We might know it in English by the name Hibiscus or red sorrel. In Arabic it is called karkade, and in Iran it is mainly known as sour tea. It contains many constituents including alkaloids, L-ascorbic acid, anisaldehyde, anthocyanin, beta carotene, beta sitosterol, citric acid, cyaniding-3, rutinoside, delphinidin, galactose, gossypetin, hibiscetin, mucopolysaccharide, pectin, protocatechuic acid, polysaccharide, quercetin, stearic acid, and wax. The medicinal parts of the plant include the flower, calyx or sepal, leaves, stems, and seeds. The extracts of the sepal contain significant amounts of vitamin C, anthocyanins, and polyphenols, as well as the highest concentration of water-soluble antioxidants. Traditionally, it has been used in folk medicine for several health issues including high blood pressure, liver diseases, loss of appetite, circulation, and as a gentle laxative and diuretic.
In addition to its appealing flavor, smell and brightly colored appearance, we can add this simple tea to our medicinal options for hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
