A trial of oolong tea in the
management of recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.
Uehara M, Sugiura H, Sakurai
K. Arch Dermatol. 2001 Jan;137(1):42-3.
Department of Dermatology,
Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa-cho, Seta, Otsu 520-2193, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mild cases of
atopic dermatitis (AD) generally improve with standard treatment. However,
standard treatment fails many patients with recalcitrant AD skin lesions. Study
results in animal models have demonstrated that the administration of tea (ie,
green, black, or oolong) has suppressed type I and type IV allergic reactions.
OBJECTIVE: To test the
effectiveness of oolong tea in the treatment of recalcitrant AD.
PATIENTS: Although 121
patients with recalcitrant AD were enrolled in the study, 118 patients
completed the open study.
METHODS: Patients were asked
to maintain their dermatological treatment. However, they were also instructed
to drink oolong tea made from a 10-g teabag placed in 1000 mL of boiling water
and steeped for 5 minutes. This amount was then divided into 3 equal servings
and 1 serving was drunk daily after 3 regular meals. Photographs of 2 or 3
representative lesion sites were taken at baseline and at 1 and 6 months and
the severity of pruritus was assessed on a 6-point Lickert-like scale ranging
from markedly improved (>50% improvement) to worsened.
RESULTS: After 1 month of
treatment 74 (63%) of the 118 patients showed marked to moderate improvement of
their condition. The beneficial effect was first noticed after 1 or 2 weeks of
treatment. A good response to treatment was still observed in 64 patients (54%)
at 6 months.
CONCLUSION: The therapeutic
efficacy of oolong tea in recalcitrant AD may well be the result of the
antiallergic properties of tea polyphenols.
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