Interfering Effect of Black Tea Consumption on Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer by CA 19-9.

Purpose: The study aims to determine the possible effects of black tea consumption on the level of CA 19-9 antigen in the human body.

Methods: The level of CA 19-9 was measured in 270 healthy individuals who consumed heavy amounts of black tea.

Results: About 43.3 % of involved individuals were revealed to have elevated levels of CA 19-9. Males with high values of CA 19-9 represented the greatest number of involved individuals. The cutoff value of high levels of CA 19-9 in all individuals was ranged 69-105 U/ml.

Conclusions: Consuming heavy amounts of black tea could be considered an important interfering factor that affects the levels of CA 19-9. The cutoff or predictive value of CA 19-9 in heavy-consuming people of black tea was determined.