The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on the cadmium accumulation in body, cadmium excretion and detoxification functions in chronic cadmium poisoned rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$pm$10g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium poisoned groups. Cadmium groups were classified to catechin free diet (Cd-0C group), 0.25% catechin diet(Cd-0.25C group) and 0.5% catechin diet(Cd-0.5C group) according to the levels of catechin supplement. Animals were maintained on 0, 0.25 and 0.5% catechin diets for 20 weeks and simultaneously administered 50ppm Cd(sup)2+ dissolved in the drinking water. Body weight, food intakes and food efficiency ratio in Cd-0C group was lower than the normal group. The accumulation of cadmium in rat liver, kidney, and blood was reduced by catechin supplementation. The excretion of cadmium in urine and feces was increased by catechin supplementation. The metallothionein(MT) contents in liver and kidney were increased in all cadmium groups compared with that of normal group. The ratios of cadmium absorption and retention ratios were significantly decreased in catechin supplementation groups. Accordingly, catechin supplementation resulted to an excretion of cadmium in urine and feces and a lowered accumulation of cadmium in liver and kidney by increasing methallothionein synthesis that led to the significant decrease in cadmium absorption and retention ratios.(Korean J Nutrition 34(4) : 384~392, 2001)