Study of Nearly 11,000 Adults Finds a Possible Tea Compound Link to Healthier Aging

Tea is often a comforting part of the day, whether you sip it first thing in the morning or pour a cup for an afternoon boost.

Beyond that familiar ritual, tea contains natural plant compounds that scientists are studying for their possible role in healthy aging. One compound in particular, EGCG, has drawn attention for its effects on cells.

A new analysis involving nearly 11,000 U.S. adults has found an association between higher intake of this compound and several signs of healthier aging.

What the study examined

The researchers reviewed health and diet data from 10,977 U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES. Their goal was to determine whether people who consumed more EGCG also showed evidence of healthier biological aging.

EGCG, short for epigallocatechin gallate, is a natural plant compound found especially in tea, including green tea. It belongs to a class of compounds known as catechins, which have attracted scientific interest because they may help protect cells from damage.

The team was especially interested in whether EGCG might help cells remain healthier as people age.

Tea drinkers showed healthier-aging markers

Compared with people who reported no EGCG intake, those who consumed some of it through their diets had lower biological aging scores, a reduced risk of death during the follow-up period, and a longer estimated remaining lifespan. Participants were followed for an average of about eight years.

Notably, people in both the lower- and higher-intake groups showed similar associations. In other words, more EGCG was not necessarily tied to greater benefits.

Nearly all of the compound came from tea. Tea-based foods and drinks made up 99.55% of participants’ EGCG intake, with black tea, green tea, and tea not specified by type accounting for most of the source.

Why EGCG might support healthier aging

To explore why EGCG might be linked to healthier aging, the researchers carried out additional experiments in roundworms and mouse liver cells.

In roundworms, EGCG helped the animals live longer while also preserving normal movement and feeding behavior for a longer time. Further analysis suggested that the compound activated tiny cell structures called peroxisomes.

Peroxisomes are part of a cell’s cleanup system. They help break down fats and handle waste, but their function can decline with age. In the experiments, EGCG appeared to boost both their number and their activity. When the genes involved in that process were blocked, the worms no longer showed the same benefits.

The researchers saw a similar effect in mouse liver cells that had been artificially aged. EGCG reduced signs of cellular aging, again apparently by activating peroxisomes.

These results offer a possible explanation for how EGCG could support healthy aging, but there is an important limitation: experiments in worms and isolated mouse cells do not prove the same effects happen in people.

Should you drink more tea?

Before stocking up on every tea variety you can find, it helps to keep the study’s limits in mind.

The human research was observational, which means the scientists looked for links between existing diets and health outcomes rather than assigning people specific amounts of tea to drink.

That means the study cannot show that EGCG itself caused the healthier-aging results, even though other research has linked tea with a range of health benefits for healthy aging.

The dietary data also came from two 24-hour food recalls, which may not reflect a person’s usual eating and drinking habits over time. In addition, the researchers examined EGCG from food and beverages, not supplements.

There is no evidence from this study that an EGCG supplement would provide the same effect.

If you already enjoy green or black tea, there is no reason to stop. Both contain EGCG and can be an easy way to include the compound in your diet. Just do not feel pressured to drink more tea or turn to concentrated supplements in the hope of living longer.

The bottom line

Tea can be a soothing drink and a potential health boost at the same time. In this study, EGCG, a compound found in green and black tea, was associated with healthier aging and a lower risk of death in nearly 11,000 adults.