Personality-guided precision nutrition: Differential cardiovascular and acupuncture meridian responses to aged white tea depend on Myers-Briggs Type Indicator traits

Published: 18 August 2026| Version 1 | DOI: 10.17632/9vtsj2tsvy.1
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Aged white tea has attracted growing interest for its health-promoting properties, yet individual variability in its physiological effects remains poorly understood. This study investigated the chemical composition, antidepressant-like effects, and personality-dependent physiological responses to 15-year-aged white tea (15YWT) through integrated animal and human experiments. Chemical analysis revealed that 15YWT contained 43.11 ± 0.48 mg/g caffeine and 6.05 ± 0.93 mg/g L-theanine, with potent antioxidant activity (FRAP: 0.381 ± 0.013 μmol FeSO₄/L). In CUMS mouse models, 15YWT (910 mg/kg) significantly reversed depressive-like behaviors, as evidenced by increased sucrose preference, elevated central zone retention time, and reduced immobility in tail suspension and forced swim tests. Mechanistically, 15YWT modulated HPA axis function by reducing serum ACTH and corticosterone levels, while enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px). In a human cohort of 40 healthy volunteers stratified by MBTI personality traits, 15YWT consumption elicited markedly distinct cardiovascular and acupuncture meridian electrical potential responses: ESFP individuals exhibited an "activating" pattern with increased systolic blood pressure and Pericardium Meridian potential, whereas INTP individuals displayed a "soothing" pattern with decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and widespread meridian potential reductions. These findings demonstrate that aged white tea exerts antidepressant effects through antioxidant and HPA axis-regulating mechanisms, and that personality traits may serve as biomarkers for predicting individualized physiological responses, providing a theoretical foundation for personality-guided precision nutrition.

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Sample size estimations were not performed. Because of the complex design of this pilot study, sample size was chosen on the basis of practical considerations. Therefore this study was not designed to have sufficient power, and the results of statistical testing have to be interpreted as descriptive, explorative, and hypothesis generating rather than as confirmatory. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0 and GraphPad Prism 9.0. Comparisons among multiple groups were conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan's multiple range test for post hoc comparisons. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Categories

Nutrition, Tea

Funders

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
    Beijing, Beijing
    Grant ID: 31500685
  • Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation
    Zhejiang, Hangzhou
    Grant ID: LY16C050002
  • Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province
    Grant ID: 2025NC-YBXM-163
  • Guiding Program of Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Plan
    Grant ID: 2023N0001
  • Young and Middle-Aged Teachers' Educational Research Project of Fujian Province
    Grant ID: JAT200947
  • Fujian Provincial College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program
    Grant ID: S202613470007
  • Fujian Provincial College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program
    Grant ID: S202613470007
  • Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation
    Grant ID: 2026J001245

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