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Taking a statin? What to know about green tea capsules
Statins and green tea extract raise two questions: liver strain and absorption. Extract capsules have been linked to liver injury, and one reference reports lower blood levels of atorvastatin. Reviralis Complete lists green tea leaf extract fourth in a 661 mg blend, with no amount printed and a ceiling of 165.25 mg, so ask your pharmacist.
Written by the Goreviralis label deskUpdated · 5 min read
The basics01
Why pair statins and green tea extract in one question?
Both are handled by the liver, so a clinician wants to know when they overlap.
A woman on a statin for two years has her blood work every six months. She reads that green tea is healthy and adds a capsule version. Tea in a cup is one thing. An extract in a capsule is a concentrated dose, and the reports of trouble are mostly about capsules.
NCCIH says liver injury from green tea extract is uncommon but reported, mainly with extracts in capsules, and that it can lower the blood levels of some drugs, atorvastatin among them (NCCIH, Green Tea). That is a reference note, not a test of any product on this site.
On the label02
How much green tea extract is in Reviralis Complete?
The label does not say. It prints only a ceiling by place in the list.
Green tea leaf extract is the 4th of 18 names in a 661 mg blend. Names run from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36), so the 4th can hold at most 661 divided by 4, or 165.25 mg per serving of two capsules. It could hold far less.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Green tea leaf extract on the label | Not printed | Ceiling 165.25 mg per serving |
| Caffeine | Not printed | The label gives no caffeine figure |
| EGCG level tied to raised liver enzymes | 800 mg a day | Reported in a drug reference (MSK About Herbs, Green Tea) |
Even at the ceiling, the extract weight is a fraction of that 800 mg figure, and the EGCG share of an extract is unknown. This is arithmetic, not reassurance, since a sensitive person may react to less.
Absorption03
Can green tea change how a statin is absorbed?
For atorvastatin, a reference says it can lower the blood level.
The note does not cover every statin, and it does not say how much extract it takes. That is why the question goes to your pharmacist by name of drug, not by the word "statin".
A second point trips up many readers. Grapefruit juice is a known issue with some statins. Grapefruit seed extract is a different thing, and Reviralis lists it 11th, with a ceiling of 60.09 mg. MSK says human evidence is limited and interaction information is thin (Avula 2007, Synthetic Disinfectants in Grapefruit Seed Extract (Pharmazie)). Thin information is a reason to ask, not a green light.
Memorial Sloan Kettering advises taking green tea extracts with food (MSK About Herbs, Green Tea). The Reviralis label says 20 to 30 minutes before a meal. Mention that gap to your pharmacist.
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See packsAt the counter04
What should you ask your pharmacist if you take a statin?
Name your statin, show the panel, and ask these four things.
- Does green tea extract change the level of my particular statin?
- Should I have liver blood tests sooner than my usual schedule?
- Does the grapefruit seed extract line matter with my statin?
- Should I take the capsule with food, away from my statin dose, or not at all?
Do not stop or skip prescribed medicine because of a supplement. A prescriber should make any change. The label asks readers who take prescription medicine to consult a provider before use.
Safety05
Which signs need a same-day call?
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools or pain under the right ribs need a same-day call to a clinician.
Unexplained muscle pain or weakness on a statin needs a call too. Call 911 for confusion with severe weakness, chest pain or trouble breathing.
The label is not for anyone under 18, and pregnant or nursing readers and people with a medical condition should ask a provider first. See the green tea liver post, the medicine check page and the ingredient list.
FAQ06
Reviralis questions people ask
Can you take green tea extract with atorvastatin?
Ask your pharmacist first, because a reference reports that green tea can lower atorvastatin blood levels. Reviralis lists green tea leaf extract without an amount. Show the Supplement Facts panel and name your exact statin.
Does green tea extract harm the liver?
Liver injury from green tea extract is uncommon but reported, mostly with capsules. The risk does not apply equally to everyone. If you have liver disease, or yellow skin or dark urine, call a clinician before using any extract.
Is grapefruit seed extract the same as grapefruit juice?
No. Grapefruit juice is a known issue with some statins, while the seed extract is a different product with limited human data. Reviralis lists it 11th in the blend, so show it to your pharmacist.
Should I take a green tea capsule before a meal?
Memorial Sloan Kettering advises taking green tea extracts with food. The Reviralis label says 20 to 30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by your healthcare professional. Ask your pharmacist how to reconcile the two.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Reviralis. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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