Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42865995›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in nutrition2026

Daily consumption of Fuzhuan brick tea improves lipid profile and vascular function associated with modulation in gut microbiota composition in healthy adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Fuqiang Liu, Ying Lv, Ting Wang, Chune Li, Yudan Zhang, Lin Liu, Xin Hu, Yan Liang, Feng Zhu, Junkui Wang

Abstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Fuqiang Liu *Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Ying Lv *Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Ting WangDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Chune LiCenter for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Yudan ZhangCenter for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Lin LiuDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Xin HuKey Laboratory of Fu Tea Processing and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China.
Yan LiangKey Laboratory of Fu Tea Processing and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China.
Feng ZhuCenter for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Junkui WangDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Dietary strategies play a pivotal role in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. Animal studies have shown that Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT), a popular post-fermented tea, enhances cardiometabolic health by modulating the gut microbiota; however, there is no definitive evidence from human trials. This 12-week randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of FBT on the lipid profile, vascular function, and gut microbiota in healthy adults. Methods: This 12-week, open-label, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in a rural community in northern China from September to November 2021. After giving informed consent, 120 healthy adults recruited were randomly assigned to either a group consuming two daily glasses of brewed FBT infusion (totaling 12 g/day) or a group consuming an equivalent amount of water. Serum lipid levels and vascular function, as indicated by flow-mediated dilation and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, were measured at baseline (0 weeks) and 12 weeks after intervention. Fecal samples collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks underwent profiling of microbiota composition by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. This trial was completed and registered at chictr.org.cn (registration number ChiCTR2100047294). Results: Compared to water, consumption of FBT resulted in significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, with improved vascular function (the co-primary outcomes). The longitudinal metagenomic analysis detected no significant alterations in richness and distribution (alpha diversity). However, a subtle but statistically detectable shift in the gut microbiota composition (beta diversity) was observed. Exploratory species-level analyses suggested increases in bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, such as Conclusion: Daily consumption of FBT demonstrated beneficial effects on lipid levels and vascular function in healthy adults, and was associated with exploratory shifts in gut microbiota composition, supporting FBT consumption is a simple, affordable, and practical dietary strategy for improving cardiometabolic health. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2100047294.

Indexed as

flow-mediated dilationFuzhuan brick teagut microbiotalipid profilenitroglycerin-mediated dilationvascular function

Identifiers

PMID42865995
PMCPMC13656248

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.