Study Links Green Tea Catechins to Weight Loss
Lee Swanson, President Swanson Vitamins
February 2009
Antioxidant compounds in green tea could help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, according to a new study from the American Society of Nutrition.
Catechins are a sub-class of flavonoids, or antioxidant compounds. Green tea is a rich source of catechins, which are thought to play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of various diseases including Alzheimer's, certain cancers, cardiovascular and oral health.
Previous studies have also suggested that tea catechins may help promote weight loss. The current study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, found that consuming a beverage containing green tea catechins (625 mg per day) may enhance exercise-induced loss of abdominal fat and improve triglyceride levels.
Researchers recruited just over 100 adults between the ages of 21 and 65. The participants were all healthy and "normally sedentary," with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 32 kg/m2. Most subjects were of non-Hispanic white ethnicity.
Male participants who made up about half of the total study group, had a waist circumference of over 90 cm, while women had a waist circumference of over 87 cm. Cholesterol levels were over 5.2 mmol/L.
The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 500 ml per day of a beverage providing 625 mg catechins, or a control beverage containing added caffeine to match the caffeine content of the catechin beverage.
Both the active and the control beverage contained water, sodium chloride, artificial citrus flavoring, glucose, erythritol and sucralose. Each 500 ml serving provides 63 kj (15 Kcal) of energy. Participants agreed not to consume more than two caffeinated beverages per day, including the study product, during the 12-week study period.
Participants consumed one serving of their assigned beverage per day, at any time of the day, and with our without food. They continued their usual energy intake, and three-day diet records were taken at baseline, six and 12 weeks. During the study period, the subjects committed to 180 minutes of "moderate-intensity" physical activity per week, and to attend at least three supervised exercise sessions per week.
At the end of the study period, people in the catechins group were found to have lost more body weight compared to the control group (P = 0.079).
There were no significant differences between the two groups in changes in waist circumference or fat mass. However, both total abdominal fat (P = 0.013) and abdominal subcutaneous fat area (P = 0.019) had decreased more in the catechins group.
The researchers concluded: "The findings of this study suggest that consumption of a beverage containing green tea catechins (625 mg per day) may enhance exercise-induced loss of abdominal fat and improve circulating FFA and TG levels. Additional research is warranted to further clarify the mechanisms responsible for these effects."
The Journal of Nutrition 139(2):264-270, 2009
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