Superior Oral Bioavailability of Epigallocatechin Gallate from TèPigal 300®, a Dietary Supplement Versus a Cup of Green Tea

Background: Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a potent compound found in green tea, is renowned for its multifaceted health benefits. Unfortunately, despite its therapeutic potential, the bioavailability of EGCG remains a challenge and differences in bioavailability by mode of administration significantly influence its therapeutic efficacy. Oral intake of EGCG often results in low absorption due to factors such as first-pass metabolism and limited intestinal permeability. Our study focuses on TèPigal 300®, a product containing 300 mg of EGCG, comparing its plasma concentration profile to that of green tea. Methods and Findings: Through in-vitro dissolution studies, we observed a significant release of EGCG in alkaline pH conditions, closely mimicking the intestinal absorption environment, supporting the effectiveness of the tablet formulation in enhancing EGCG absorption. The clinical aspect of our research involved a study of 22 healthy subjects to evaluate the relative bioavailability of EGCG, based on plasma concentration profiles (AUC) of EGCG from one tablet of TèPigal 300® in comparison with the consumption of one cup of green tea. Notably, in 10 healthy subjects EGCG was detectable in the bloodstream within 15 minutes, with increasing levels up to 60 minutes. This pattern suggests efficient absorption following EGCG release. Further comparison with the consumption of 1 cup of green tea in 12 healthy subjects highlighted the superior oral bioavailability of EGCG from TèPigal 300® tablets over tea beverage intake, quantifying this difference as one TèPigal 300® tablet being equivalent to consuming 21 cups of green tea. Conclusion: our study underlines TèPigal 300® advantage in providing a more efficient convenient form of EGCG consumption, leading to potentially greater health benefits. Our promising results open avenues for future research on improving EGCG bioavailability through new technologies and nutrients synergies.