The Effect of White Tea in Healthy Human Subjects

Effect of White Tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) Beverages on Anthropometric, Hematological, Biochemical and First Line Antioxidant Enzymes Activity of Healthy Human (Superoxide Dismutase, and Glutathione Peroxidase)

This clinical study aims to determine the effects of consuming white tea infusion (Camellia sinensis) on healthy subjects over a period of 14 days. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Determine the effect of white tea consumption on the anthropometry of healthy subjects.
2. Determine the effect of white tea consumption on the biochemical parameters of healthy subjects.
3. Determine the effect of white tea consumption on hematology parameters that are related to anemia case in healthy subjects.
4. Determine the effect of white tea consumption on the activity of first-line antioxidant enzymes in healthy subjects

Researchers used only one treatment group, and respondents knew which treatment they would receive (single-arm and open-labelled), namely white tea infusion to maintain human body health. Participants will:

1. Follow the washout stage for 7 days
2. Drink white tea infusion every day for 14 days.
3. Follow up to monitor adverse effects after consuming white tea; this stage will be conducted for 7 days.
4. Report all food and beverages consumed by respondents during the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healhty
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: White tea intervention

Detailed Description

Unhealthy lifestyles, including alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, radiation exposure, and the preparation of food (e.g. smoked meat, used oil, and fat) and polluted environments (water and air pollution) are triggering an increase in cases of degenerative diseases worldwide, including ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, liver disease, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and others. The body's natural defences can decline at any time due to the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by unhealthy lifestyle factors and environmental pollution. Exogenous antioxidants are important for maintaining the body's defence system against excessive ROS. This study will examine the potential of compounds in white tea infusion in maintaining human health by monitoring several parameters, including anthropometric, biochemical, haematological, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The anthropometric parameters tested include body weight, height, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Biochemical parameters include lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urea nitrogen levels. The haematological parameters used are directly related to the indication of anaemia, including red blood cell count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Finally, there are the first-line antioxidant enzyme activity parameters, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). This examination was conducted before and after the 14-day white tea infusion treatment to observe the effects of the treatment. Male and female healthy volunteers were instructed to follow three stages of research, including:

1. Washout phase : respondents are advised to avoid products with high polyphenol content such as turmeric, ginger, galangal, grapes, apples, oranges, coffee, other types of tea, and chocolate, either directly or in processed products.
2. Treatment phase: respondents continue to avoid the products avoided during the washout process. In this phase, respondents will consume white tea infusion (4 grams of WT in 200 mL of freshly boiled water) every day for 14 days.
3. Observational phase: the phase is conducted for 7 days to monitor the presence or absence of side effects after 14 days of consuming white tea infusion.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 19
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Indonesia
  • West Java
    • Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia, 45363
      • Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The participants are the community around Padjadjaran University with an age range of 20 - 35 years old. Female respondents were unmarried.
2. The participants are non-smoker.
3. The participants should have no history of anemia, chronic disease, hepatic and renal dysfunction.
4. The participants are willing to follow the research process until its finish by signing an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The participants who are undergoing drug therapy and taking vitamin supplements.
2. The participants who failed due to illness or are unable to continue the examination to the end.
3. Respondents with pre-treatment biochemical results not within the normal range

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: White tea intervention; Nineteen respondents will be given 200 mL of white tea (4 grams of white tea sample in 200 mL of water at a temperature of 95-98°C) for 14 days after a 7-day washout period. In the final stage, all respondents will undergo an observation phase. In the final stage, all respondents are required to submit updates on their physical condition. If they experience discomfort such as nausea, dizziness, or general unease, the respondents will be examined by the research physician. In our study, no control group was used. To demonstrate the effect of white tea on the respondents' health condition, we compared the results before and after the treatment.

Other: White tea intervention; White tea infusion was prepared by brewing 4 grams of white tea in 200 mL of hot water.; Healthy respondents were asked to consume the white tea infusion for 14 days.; The focus of this study was to observe the effect of white tea infusion on antioxidant enzyme activity and its relationship with anthropometric, biochemical, and haematological parameters.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Antioxidant Enzymes Analysis	Comparing the antioxidant activity values of enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in pre and post white tea treatment (day 0 and day 15). The increased activity of antioxidant enzymes signifies an enhancement in the body's capability to combat free radicals. The analysis will be conducted using a reagent kit to obtain the antioxidant enzyme activity values in the respondents' serum. All antioxidant enzyme parameter values are expressed in U/mL.	14 days
Liver Function Analysis	The effect of the product on liver function will be analysed based on SGOT and SGPT values. A drastic increase compared to the pre-intervention level indicates potential toxicity. Both parameters will be expressed in units of ukat/L.	14 days
estimated Glomerular filtration rate	A drastic decrease in eGFR indicates the potential toxicity of white tea beverages. eGFR results of respondents will be expressed in mL/min/1.73m2	14 days
Lipid profile measurement	The effect of product administration on lipid profile was assessed by measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) parameters. Product effectiveness was determined based on the stability or decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL values, as well as an increase in HDL values post-treatment compared to pre-treatment values. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) will be expressed in mmol/L	14 days
Fasting blood glucose measurement	Fasting blood glucose will be expressed in mmol/L	14 days
Serum creatinine Analysis	An elevated serum creatinine level is an indication of potential toxicity associated with white tea consumption. Serum creatinine level will be expressed in umol/L	14 days
Blood Urea Nitrogen Analysis	An elevated blood urea nitrogen level is an indication of potential toxicity associated with white tea consumption. The parameter will be written in units of mmol/L	14 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Weight Measurement	The body weight of respondents will be measured on day 0 and day 15 after administration of white tea treatment. Body weight values before and after treatment will be analysed. Body weight values will be recorded in kilograms (kg)	14 days
Body Height Measurement	Height measurements will be taken on days 0 and 15. Measurements will be taken to calculate BMI values for further analysis. Height values will be recorded in centimetres (cm).	14 days
Body Mass Index	Body mass index measurements will be taken using weight and height data. The BMI result is recorded in kg/m^2, then the analysis will be classified into the categories of underweight (BMI range <18.5 kg/m^2) healthy (BMI range 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m^2), overweight (BMI range 25.0 - 29.9 kg/m^2) and obese (BMI range > 29.9 kg/m^2).	14 days
Waist Circumference Measurement	Waist circumference measurements were taken on days 0 and 15 using a measuring tape and expressed in centimetres (cm). The results before and after treatment will be analysed.	14 days
Blood Pressure Measurement	Both systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure will be measured.	14 days
Number of participants with serious adverse events related to study product	Signs and symptoms of adverse event related to study product including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, burning sensation in the stomach, excessive fatigue, constipation, and excessive urination will be assessed daily for 14 days since the first administration of white tea beverages.	14 days
Red Blood Cells Measurement	Red blood cell (RBC) parameters are one of the parameters used to assess whether white tea beverages have the potential to cause anaemia. Tests were conducted on days 0 and 15, the difference in RBC values was analysed, and RBC values were expressed in 10^6/uL.	14 days
Haemoglobin Measurement	Haemoglobin parameters are one of the parameters used to assess whether white tea beverages have the potential to cause anaemia. Tests were conducted on days 0 and 15, the difference in haemoglobin values was analysed, and haemoglobin values were expressed in grams/decilitre (g/dL)	14 days
Haematocrit Measurement	Haematocrit parameters are one of the parameters used to assess whether white tea beverages have the potential to cause anaemia. Tests were conducted on days 0 and 15, the difference in haematocrit values was analysed, and haematocrit values were expressed in percentage (%).	14 days
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Measurement	Mean Corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) parameters are one of the parameters used to assess whether white tea beverages have the potential to cause anaemia. Tests were conducted on days 0 and 15, the difference in MCH values was analysed, and MCH values were expressed in picograms (pg).	14 days
Mean Corpuscular Volume Measurement	Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) parameters are one of the parameters used to assess whether white tea beverages have the potential to cause anaemia. Tests were conducted on days 0 and 15, the difference in MCV values was analysed, and MCV values were expressed in femtoliters (fL).	14 days
Daily intake	The daily report of respondents incorporates information regarding their daily activities and the consumption of food and beverages during the 28-day research period. Respondents will be asked to submit this data every day via personal chat (WhatsApp).	28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitas Padjadjaran
• Investigators: Study Director: Gofarana Wilar, Ph.D., Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 22, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 27, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: PHAR.202509-01

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No