White tea consumption improves cardiac glycolytic and oxidative profile of prediabetic rats

•White tea (WTEA) consumption ameliorated the metabolic status of prediabetic rats.•WTEA modulated cardiac glycolytic and oxidative profiles of prediabetic rats.•WTEA consumption prevented some cardiac deleterious effects promoted by prediabetes.•Drinking WTEA appears as a good/economic strategy for prediabetics and diabetics. Prediabetes is associated with cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that white tea (WTEA) consumption by prediabetic rats improved cardiac glycolytic and oxidative profile. Prenatal male Wistar rats were divided in control group and prediabetes (PrDM) group which received a streptozotocin injection. After one month, PrDM rats were divided: half consumed water and half WTEA during two months. WTEA phytochemical profile was determined. Rats were then subjected to glucose tolerance and insulin resistance tests. Cardiac glycolytic and oxidative profiles were determined. Prediabetes decreased glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3) mRNA expression, lactate and acetate content and lactate dehydrogenase activity in cardiac tissue. Prediabetes also decreased heart antioxidant capacity, increasing lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. WTEA consumption improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in prediabetic rats and increased cardiac acetate and alanine contents and protein oxidation levels. WTEA consumption ameliorated overall metabolic status of prediabetic rats and prevented most of heart-related deleterious effects evaluated.