Abstract
Introduction: The various toxic chemicals automobile workers (AMW) are exposed to may predispose them to some adverse cardiovascular outcomes by alteration of lipids and lipoproteins. However, dietary strategies may be useful in preventing this undesirable outcome.
Materials & Methods: The study aimed to assess the lipid profile and atherogenic indices of automobile workers. 78 male subjects aged 18 to 54 years, 33 automobile workers (AMW), and 45 control subjects were recruited for this study. 28 out of the 33 automobile workers received 150 ml of green tea daily for two months. 3ml of fasting blood samples were collected before and after one and two months of intervention. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and triglyceride (TG) were measured enzymatically while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and atherogenic indices (Castelli’s risk index (CRI) 1 and 2, atherogenic coefficient (AC), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non-HDLc (nHDLc) were calculated.
Results: The median values of TC, LDLc, TG, CRI-1, CRI-2, AC, AIP, and nHDLc were significantly higher in the automobile workers when compared to the control (p<0.05), however, the median HDLc level was not significantly different in both groups (p=0.083). TC, LDLc, TG, CRI-1, CRI-2, AC, AIP, and nHDLc decreased significantly after one and two months of green tea intake whereas HDLc level increased significantly after two months of intake (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study suggests that automobile workers are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, however, green tea supplements may possess anti-atherogenic properties for attenuating cardiovascular risk in these workers.

Key words: Green tea, Supplementation, Atherogenic indices, Cardiovascular disease, Lipid profile