The link between green tea and CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ? the most common form of blood and bone marrow cancer) has come to light in recent clinical studies and seems to be heavily drawing the attention of the medical community all over the world. In a recent study carried out at Mayo Clinic, it was found that three of the CLL patients showed a definite degree of improvement when they were given green tea, either as a beverage or green tea extract as a nutritional additive (specifically, epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG). Thus, there appears to be some kind of a link between consuming green tea and alleviating CLL.

Green Tea and CLL - Is There A Link?

The question that the medical researchers are trying to answer is: What and how exactly does a simple everyday herb like green tea help to improve the condition of the patients suffering from an incurable disease like chronic lymphocytic leukemia? Well, the answer seems to lie in the collaboration between green tea and CLL patient's immune system, which leads to reduced counts of white blood cells ? it is these very cells that go haywire and start increasing rapidly and uncontrollably in a CLL patient. This green tea and CLL link has been validated through blood counts and CT scans..

However, as is the case with any new scientific finding, there is bound to be some kind of skepticism or criticism about any green tea and CLL link to improvement. One of the argument is that the same research team has been working on the green tea and CLL link, and publishing research papers in order to receive funding for clinical trials on a larger scale. Another reason for casting doubts on this link is that CLL patients are known sometimes, though very rarely, to show a sudden and spontaneous temporary improvement in CLL on their own ? with or without green tea. The critics feel that more research using placebo controls is required for establishing a true link with green tea and CLL ? unless that is done, the published results remain subjective.

Well, almost all the great clinical studies did start like that and progressed from thereon to the final stage. The research on the attraction green tea and CLL have is still in the preliminary stages of trials. And these initial trials are quite tricky because the green tea nutritional supplements have not yet got regulated, implying that the quantity of the active ingredient actually present in a supplement can fluctuate widely.

Thus, in conclusion it can be said that further research is warranted to establish unequivocally a link between green tea and CLL treatment. There is no doubt that green tea is good for health in general, and there is no harm at all if you take it. However, don't yet reach for the green tea pills as a cure for CLL ? which still has a long way to go.