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Green tea extract for mild-to-moderate diabetic peripheral neuropathy

A 16-week randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of green tea extract (GTE) intake on the neurophysiological and clinical condition of patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic neuropathy. The biochemical compounds found in green tea (Camellia sinensis) hold anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties, with supplementation suggested to help with the sensory symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The study included 194 participants diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy with symptoms classified as mild (6-8 points) or moderate (9-11 points) using the Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS). Researchers measured participants at baseline and 4-week intervals using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for sensorineural pain and vibration perception thresholds (VPT) for neural dysfunction. Participants in the intervention group (n = 96) consumed decaffeinated 500 mg GTE capsules 30 minutes after meals 3 times daily for 16 weeks, and participants in the control group (n = 98) received a comparable placebo material for the same duration. Quantitative analysis revealed significant improvement in symptoms following GTE supplementation, showing lower VAS, TCSS and VPT scores after 8 weeks of treatment compared to baseline. This difference became more evident at 16 weeks, indicating a beneficial effect of GTE in reducing sensorineural symptoms for patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic neuropathy.