Title:Green Tea Catechins and COVID-19: Epidemiological Trends and Therapeutic Perspectives
Volume: 32
Issue: 20
Author(s): Maksim Storozhuk*
Affiliation:
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Keywords:
Catechins, SARS-CoV-2, (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), regression models, therapeutic benefits.
Abstract:
Introduction: Pharmacological studies in vitro demonstrate the preventive and therapeutic potential
of green tea and its constituent epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in the fight against coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19). Previously reported correlations between per capita green tea consumption and COVID-
19 morbidity/mortality suggest similar effects in vivo. Considering that some recent SARS-CoV-2 (severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) sub-variants are less influenced by EGCG, this study aimed to determine
whether this affects the aforementioned correlations, focusing on comparisons between the periods
before (2021) and after (2022-2024) the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Methods: Correlations between per capita green tea consumption and COVID-19 morbidity/mortality were
calculated using multiple regression models accounting for several confounding factors in a subset (n=84) of
countries/territories worldwide with Human Development Index (HDI) above 0.55.
Results: Higher per capita green tea consumption was associated with lower COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.
Statistically significant correlations were observed in 2021-2024. Compared with 2021, the strength of
both correlations decreased; the relative decrease in the strength of the correlation between per capita green
tea consumption and COVID-19 mortality was notably less pronounced.
Discussion: This differential decrease at the epidemiological level supports the idea that green tea consumption
may have not only preventive but also therapeutic value regarding COVID-19. This aligns with in vitro
pharmacological evidence indicating that green tea constituents target distinct molecular pathways responsible
for the entry of the virus and its replication.
Conclusion: While promising, these findings require further assessment in observational and interventional
studies focused on potential therapeutic benefits.
