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Q. Is it Earl Grey or English breakfast tea that can cause sore muscles?A. There is one case report of a man who developed significant muscle pain and cramping in reaction to Earl Grey tea (The Lancet, April 27, 2002). We have also heard from a few readers who had similar problems.
Earl Grey tea is flavored with oil from the citrus fruit bergamot. This oil contains bergapten, a natural compound that can block the flow of potassium in and out of cells. Muscle cells rely on potassium flow, so that might explain the connection. Most people do not seem to suffer this kind of reaction, so those who do may be exceptionally sensitive.
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In addition, oil of bergamot inhibits the liver enzymes responsible for metabolizing many drugs (CYP3A4), a characteristic it shares with grapefruit.
Bergamot oil comes from a citrus fruit known as the Seville Orange or Bitter Orange, which is used to make marmalade and is not the same as the oranges you find in the produce section of your grocery store. It is also unrelated to the plant called bergamot or Bee Balm (Monarda didyma).
I fully enjoy Earl Gray Tea but experience terrible abdominal cramps. I think the Bergamot is too strong as the Lady Gray Tea is fine with me and that seems to have less Bergamot in it.
I have a colostomy and poor discharge of fluids due to no large intestines. This causes a dangerous level of potassium and accompanying kidney insufficiency. I take Kionex b.i.d.
I was told to push fluids and began drinking high quantities of Earl Grey tea, my favorite. I also have a history since imbibing this tea of painful finger and foot cramps at night.
After reading your column in the L.A. Times I switched to regular black tea. The cramps have mostly stopped and my lab results are better for the potassium level and indications of kidney insufficiency. It sure works for me!