Tea consumption and serum lipids in a Libyan population in Benghazi.

Libyan subjects are known to consume large amounts of tea. There are reports that consumption of tea is associated with a reduction in serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the effects of tea consumption on 604 local Libyan subjects at Benghazi. The study groups were divided into younger (20-40 years) and older age (41-65 years) groups. It was observed that there was a negative association between tea consumption and serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. It appears that tea consumption may be an independent factor influencing serum lipid levels.