Recent advances of anti-hyperglycemia and anti-diabetes actions of tea in animal studies

•Tea supplementation could suppress carbohydrates absorption.•Tea intervention could stimulate glucose metabolism.•Tea consumption also could alleviate the oxidative stress.

A growing body of evidence showed that tea has anti-hyperglycemia and anti-diabetes effects during recent years. Tea may exert beneficial effects on decreasing blood glucose and ameliorating insulin resistance by first, suppressing carbohydrates absorption; second, stimulating glucose metabolism; and third, alleviating the oxidative stress. Furthermore, it was also reported that tea consumption could ameliorate the complications of diabetes mellitus. However, being a key factor in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress should be paid more attention. The relationship between the anti-oxidative efficacy and anti-diabetes actions of tea, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of this relevance need further meticulous research. In order to understand the research trends of this field, this review highlights the latest advances in the anti-hyperglycemia and anti-diabetes actions of tea in animal studies since 2012.

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