綠茶可以治療心血管疾病，還預防老年癡呆？

Green tea could hold the key to preventing thousands of deaths each year caused by strokes and heart disease , a new study has claimed.
一項新的研究表明，每年都有上個人因中風和心臟疾病而死亡，而常喝綠茶則是預防這種死亡的關鍵。

Scientists had been researching epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in green tea, for its ability to reduce amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.
科學家一直在研究綠茶中的一種成分epigallocatechin-3-gallate（簡稱EGCG），看其能否減少阿爾茲海默（老年癡呆）病人腦中的澱粉樣斑塊”（這些斑塊會損害大腦細胞之間的聯繫，導致記憶力退化）。

However, a team from Lancaster University and the University of Leeds now believe EGCG can also break up potentially dangerous protein plaques found in blood vessels.
但是，來自蘭開斯特大學和利茲大學的研究小組發現EGCG可以破壞血管上面有潛在危險的蛋白質沉積。

Atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty material inside arteries that reduces the flow of blood, can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks or stroke.
動脈粥樣硬化，也就是在血管中形成的脂肪物質會減緩血液流動，會提高罹患心臟病和中風的風險。

But, in the paper published in the Journal Biological Chemistry, researchers said EGCG can bind to fibres in the tissue, converting them into smaller, soluble molecules less likely to cause damage.
但是根據《生物科學期刊》上面發表的論文，研究人員說EGCG讓纖維和組織相結合，讓他們變小，可溶性分子不太可能造成損傷。

“Our results show that this intriguing compound might also be effective against the types of plaques which can cause heart attacks and strokes.”
“我們的研究結果表明，綠茶中的這個成分，對於產生心臟病和中風的沉積也有作用。”

The researchers, funded by the British Heart Foundation , are now beginning to look at ways effective levels EGCG could be introduced into the bloodstream without individuals being required to drink huge quantities of green tea.
由英國心臟基金會出資，研究者們不用讓被試人員引入大量的綠茶，而能使血管內的EGCG標準達到有效水平。

Methods could include modifying the structure of the compound to make it easier to absorb through the stomach, or delivering the chemical to a precise location via injection.
這些方法包括改變EGCG的結構讓它更容易被胃吸收，或者通過在某個特定位置進行注射這種化學物質來實現。

Despite the positivity from scientists involved in the research, not all experts are convinced of the study's importance.
儘管研究有積極的成果，不過不是所有專家都認同這項研究的重要性。

Tim Chico, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Sheffield, described the research as “interesting”, but added more information was needed before conclusions could be drawn.
來自謝菲爾德大學的心血管藥物的教授Tim Chico將這項研究“很有意思”，不過還需要更多的信息才能夠得出結論。

“It is far too early to suggest that this will lead to new treatments,” he said.
“要把這種方式作爲一項新的治療手段還有很長的路要走。”他說。

“There are thousands of researchers working across the globe using many different approaches to try to tackle heart disease, and people should be encouraged that we are making great progress.
“在世界各地有數以千計的研究者通過多種不同的手段來治療心臟病，我們取得了很大的成效，大家應該爲此鼓舞。”

“However, adopting a healthy active lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight remain the best ways to reduce our risk of heart disease.“
”不過，要有一種積極健康的生活方式，均衡飲食，不抽菸，保持健康體重，這纔是減少心臟病風險的最好方式。”

Heart and circulatory disease claims the lives of around 160,000 people in the UK each year, accounting for roughly a quarter of deaths nationwide, while a further 40,000 suffer fatal stokes.
每年在英國有16萬人因心臟病和循環系統疾病而死亡，佔了全球因該病死亡人數的四分之一。而且還有4萬人因中風而致命。