Maté

Scientific Name(s): Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. var.
Common Name(s): Chimarrao, Cimarrón, Erva maté, Hierba maté, Jesuit's tea, Kaiha, Maté, Paraguay tea, St. Bartholomew's tea, Terere, Yerba maté

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 22, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Maté is a traditional caffeine- and vitamin-containing beverage used for its stimulant, diuretic, and depurative properties. Beneficial effects in obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease risk factors have been suggested, mainly due to its antioxidant activity. Clinical trials are limited to support any use.

Dosing

Maté is widely consumed as a beverage; however, clinical data to form a basis for dosing are limited. Numerous commercial products are available, including capsule and tablet formulations marketed for energizing, rejuvenating, and nutritional qualities. Studies have used maté tea dosages of 990 to 1,500 mL/day (often in divided doses) over 6 to 12 weeks to evaluate its effects on diabetes and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. In a trial evaluating the effects of maté on obesity, 3 capsules (each containing yerba maté 333.38 mg) were administered 3 times daily (total daily dose of 3 g) for 12 weeks.

Contraindications

Avoid use if hypersensitive to any of the components of maté. Avoid use during pregnancy and lactation due to documented adverse effects. Restricted use of maté is warranted in patients with hypertension or cardiac disorders.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use due to documented adverse effects. Low birth weight, birth defects, and premature birth have been associated with caffeine ingestion. High concentrations of the alkaloid theobromine have been found in the placenta, cord serum, neonatal urine, and breast milk.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Case reports exist of neonatal withdrawal syndrome resulting from long-term maternal consumption of maté; symptoms included increased irritability, crying, and hypertonia in the limbs. Adverse effects documented in 1 study of healthy women administered maté included insomnia, anxiety, GI irritation, and tachycardia.

Toxicology

Some epidemiological studies suggest an association between high maté consumption (more than 1 L/day) and cancer, especially head, neck, and bladder cancers; however, study results are conflicting and confounding factors were not addressed. An association was observed between maté consumption and development of oropharyngeal cancer; a synergistic effect was observed with maté consumption and smoking.

Scientific Family

• Aquifoliaceae

Botany

Maté is a tea brewed from the dried and minced leaves of I. paraguariensis (yerba maté), a dioecious evergreen tree in the holly family (see Holly) that grows 8 to 15 m in height. The green leaves are 8 cm long, alternate, and ovate, with a wedge-shaped base. The petioles, or stalks, are up to 15 mm long. The flowering stage produces white petals that may be in clusters of 1 to 15 flowers during the spring season. The fruits are red and contain 4 to 5 seeds. The species is native to Paraguay, Uruguay, northeastern Argentina, and southern Brazil and requires a relatively wet and moderate climate.Bracesco 2011, Heck 2007, USDA 2013

History

Maté infusion has been used for centuries in folk medicine as a stimulant against physical and mental weakness, and for treating hepatic and digestive diseases, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and inflammatory diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The infusion or decoction of the aerial parts of I. paraguariensis was...