Effects of Black Tea Intake on Serum Lipids

Inclusion Criteria: * between 45-65 years old * mildly hypercholesterolemic (total cholesterol levels between 4.9 and 6.7 mmol/L, 190 and 260 mg/dl) * high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between 0.9 and 1.6 mmol/L (35 and 65 mg/dl) * triglyceride (TG) concentrations below 6.8 mmol/L (600 mg/dl) * habitually consumed a typical American diet with low dietary flavonoid intake (\<4 one-half cup servings of fruits and vegetables/day) and low intake (\<1 serving/day) of soy-rich foods, nuts, herbs, and spices (besides salt and pepper) * aspartate aminotransferase (AST) between 0 and 55 mg/L * creatinine between 70.7 and 150.3 mmol/L (0.8 and 1.7 mg/dl) * glucose between 3.3 and 6.4 mmol/L (60 and 115 mg/dl) Exclusion Criteria: * current smoker * usage of high amounts of antioxidant vitamin supplements (\>3 times the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamins E, C, and selenium, or \>10 mg/day of beta carotene) * had been diagnosed with diabetes, coagulation disorders, chronic pulmonary disease, current active malignancy, renal disease requiring dialysis, malabsorption, or gastrointestinal disorders, or had a history of cardiovascular disease. * antihypertensive, immunosuppressive, cholesterol lowering, or anticoagulant medications * consuming \>3 servings of alcohol daily * Pre-menopausal (women)