Longevity
A groundbreaking 2020 study revealed a fascinating secret: EGCG from green tea activates a special receptor called 67LR with numerous positive effects on muscle growth, inflammation, and even cancer cells.
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In 2015, a study was published in which researchers essentially observed live what EGCG—the main molecule in green tea—does in muscle tissue (of laboratory animals). Of course, this was in vitro, meaning not in a living organism. And they observed something fascinating: EGCG caused Foxo1, a protein, to disappear from the cell nucleus.
Why is this significant? Well, Foxo1 is part of a rhythmic system in the cell where it leaves the nucleus whenever insulin or growth hormones (e.g., IGF1) increase and act on the cell. Insulin and IGF1 have anabolic effects—Foxo1, on the other hand, has catabolic effects. The latter is certainly important when you're in a fasting state. But in principle, cells need anabolic input via insulin and IGF1.
In our modern world, unfortunately, many people become insulin-resistant due to energy abundance. Insulin and IGF1, both working through the insulin receptor, simply stop working well. The consequences are chronic inflammation, damaged arteries, shrinking muscles, shrinking bones… and so on. This is why researchers are eager to find substances (natural or otherwise) that can reverse this.
So in 2015, researchers could observe that EGCG also removes Foxo1 from the cell nucleus, suggesting that EGCG could work like insulin and IGF1. However, in the same study, they also proved that EGCG doesn't bind to the insulin receptor… but rather to some other receptor. Oh! Mysterious.
Apparently, the researchers weren't aware that this mysterious receptor was already described back in 2004. Because incredibly enough, EGCG can act like a hormone and specifically activate receptors in the body. And this receptor is called, in short form, 67LR—better known as: the 67-kDa laminin receptor. This «evolutionarily highly conserved» receptor is ancient and found in very many animals. It plays a role in a variety of biological processes.
The Japanese in particular seem interested in studying how EGCG works via 67LR. And so two studies from Japan, from the same laboratory, from 2020 and 2022 respectively, reveal very, very exciting findings. The researchers describe how EGCG binds to this mysterious receptor, which in cells then does the following:
Akt1 is the connection point. Because the activated insulin receptor also causes Akt1 to activate, which in turn causes Foxo1 to disappear from the cell nucleus. In 2020, a study then confirmed exactly this: EGCG actually works via 67LR and thus Akt1 in muscle to inhibit protein breakdown—caused by Foxo1-activated proteins. Sensational!
Alongside the insulin receptor, activated by the two hormones insulin and IGF1, there appears to be a third, potent pathway to deactivate genes that preserve muscle. Namely, 67LR, activated by EGCG. Incredible.
But that's not all. 67LR, when activated by EGCG, shows a multitude of positive effects:
And this is partly why green tea—but also black tea—scores so positively in so many studies. They work via EGCG and thus through 67LR activity simply very potently. For this reason, everyone should drink a cup of green or black tea from time to time or take an EGCG capsule. It will do your body good.
Oh yes, one more thing to note: This 67LR receptor is, according to the authors, «strongly upregulated by retinoic acid»—that rings a bell for some, doesn't it? Retinoic acid is also a hormone and arises in the body from vitamin A. This suggests that vitamin A and EGCG work synergistically. Worth keeping in mind.
