Theaflavins (black tea extract) and cholesterol
What 2 graded rows on theaflavins (black tea extract) agree on for cholesterol, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Theaflavins (black tea extract) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Theaflavins (black tea extract) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Theaflavins (black tea extract) and cholesterol
2 rows · 342 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement and 1 found no difference.
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 2
- Trials
- 2
- People
- 342
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 240 people (2003) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The row that found an improvement was larger: 240 people, against 102 people for the row that found no difference.
The row that found no difference is newer (2010) than the row that found an improvement (2003).
The rows
1 improved · 1 no difference- CGrade CLDL and total cholesterol in mild to moderate hypercholesterolaemia · Improved
RCT · n 240 · 2003 · Adults with mild to moderate high cholesterol on a low-fat diet (China)
375 mg/day · 12 weeks
Total cholesterol fell 11.3% and LDL 16.4% from baseline, with no change in the placebo group; HDL and triglycerides did not change; no significant adverse events.
Row on the Theaflavins (black tea extract) page · PubMed 12824094 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectTotal and LDL cholesterol with purified theaflavins · No difference
RCT · n 102 · 2010 · Adults with mildly to moderately raised cholesterol
77.5 mg/day theaflavins (or 75 mg plus 150 mg catechins) · 11 weeks
Total and LDL cholesterol did not differ among theaflavins, theaflavins/catechins and placebo (p=0.12 and p=0.11).
Row on the Theaflavins (black tea extract) page · PubMed 19639377 (opens PubMed)