Green tea and wine compounds can help treat phenylketonuria and other genetic diseases, new research

New scientific research shows that certain compounds found in green tea and wine may have beneficial effects for children born with genetic metabolic disorders.

Green tea is so good for you that according to a scientist cited by the medical website. WebMD "It's the healthiest thing I can think of," but new research conducted by chemists at the Israeli Tel Aviv University may have further strengthened the reputation of the traditional Japanese drink

of Tel Aviv's study is not only good for green tea fanatics. Wine lovers can also have a heart. Their preferred libation also contains elements that, according to the researchers, could bring new hope to children born with genetic disorders that can normally be treated only by adhering to strict dietary requirements, such as phenylketonuria – a condition Who Can Lead According to an article published in the latest edition of the journal Communications Chemistry scientists say that some compounds may be afflicted with intellectual impairments and even severe brain damage if they are not treated properly . In green tea and wine, they block toxic metabolites, that is, substances used by the body to form DNA and proteins, but which reach harmful levels. even fatal when they are not metabolized by humans.

Children born with a "defective gene" that prevents the proper metabolism of these substances must follow strict diets to prevent the metabolites from accumulating at the same time. toxic levels in the blood. For example, in the case of phenylketonuria, the body fails to treat phenylalanine, a necessary amino acid that becomes dangerous when too much of it is allowed to remain in the body.

But according to a summary of the new study published by Science Daily epigallocatechin gallate, better known by its abbreviation EGCG – a substance naturally present in green tea – as well as l & # 39; Tannic acid present in red wines, can both be helpful in blocking the formation of "Toxic Metabolites" – a finding that scientists say can lead to the creation of new drugs to treat phenylketonuria and other genetic metabolic diseases .

Treatment of phenylketonuria with diet, according to study co-author Shira Shaman-Liv, "is an incredibly difficult task, since phenylalanine is found in most of the food we consume. The avoidance of certain substances is the only way to prevent the long-term debilitating effects of innate conbad metabolic disorders, and we hope that our new approach will facilitate the development of new drugs to treat these disorders. "

While research was being conducted On the application of tannic acids and EGCG to cell clusters in test tubes, researchers relied on computer simulations to conduct their experiments. and in both cases the results were "promising" in showing that natural compounds could prevent the formation of toxic metabolites.

"Our new study demonstrates once again nature's ability to produce the best candidate to treat some" Shaman-Niv said.