I take green tea extract from Puritan Pride 1600 mg/day. In the Mayo study, it was up to 2000 mg/day. I too got an E mail from Mayo with articles on Polyphenon E (Green Tea Extract). i hope it works and slows the progression of the disease.

I am also using the green tea supplements from Puritan Pride. I have the 500 ml standard capsules. They are large. I am taking about 2100 ml a day of egcg- that is about 4 pills three times a day. My last lymphocyte count went down. Don't know if it was from the tea or not, but I am continuing to take it because I feel as if I am pro active instead of just w & w. I don't like the term, but glad that I am still in the phase of the disease.
I also go onto another cll site- cllforum- and many people on that site have been using the green tea and seem to be successful with it. My next blood tests are the end of Nov and I guess I will know more than.
I did contact the Mayo Clinic- Dr. Shanafelt and believe it or not I received an email back from his PR department. Although they could not tell me anything about the drug they are using, they sent me so info and the name of the co making the drug for them. I was surprised to have heard from them. I contacted the co. making the drug but they never responded back.
Neither my PCP or my Onc will comment on the green tea. My PCP says to continue with it, if for no other reason than it makes me feel as if I am doing something other than worrying.
So far I have no physcial problems associated with this disease. I have no enlarged nodes, plenty of energy ( possibly from the caffeine in the green tea) and feel great. All my other blood levels are within normal range. Emotionally I am a reck. Still have not come to terms with having this disease. I try everyday not to think about, but trying not to think about makes me think about it more. I hope to become emotionally stronger soon. It has been almost a year.

Question? Is Puritan's Pride Green Tea better than what I can get at my local health food store? And is the Green Tea extract better than the pills?

The green tea extract supplement from Puritan Pride (500 mg) contains 350 mg of EGCG which is the extract that Mayo clinic is using. It is the highest that I have found. Read the contents on the label from the local store. Mayo was using up to 2000 mg a day of EGCG.

I found some ECGC at the health store as well as Green Tea. So these are not the same thing?

Can't tell you if they are the same. Again check the amount of the EGCG on the label. That is the supplement that was talked about in the Mayo articles. Puritan Pride supplements claims to have 350 mg per serving (2 tablets). I am taking about 2100 mg a day. I only hope that it is working, Will know more after next blood test end of Nov. Last blood tests numbers were down. Could be just normal and would have happen without the tea, but I like to believe that I am doing something.

I am not sure if better but Puritan Pride Green Tea extract is good quality product. They were have a sale of all their prodeucts on line where if you get some extra bottles free. My lymph count as stayed about same since July. Feel ok, but some diarrhea. That may be side effect of green tea extract but it is mild. I also drink geen tea once a day besides green tea extract.

Yes, they always seem to be having a sale. I have not had any side effects from the supplement. My count went down. Don't know why- could be just a natural event - I have been told that counts can go up and down. I am at a very low level so far. As I said, I have no idea if the tea is doing any good or not, but to me I am being proactive instead of simply waiting and watch this bugger take over my body and my life. Next blood tests are scheduled for the end of Nov with visit to Drs beginning of Dec. All I can do right now and hope and pray that something good is coming out of all these supplements that i am popping. Feel like a druggy. Will let you know what happened.