Another recent weight loss regime I’ve been asked about are green tea extract pills. Widely known as a protective antioxidant, over the last few years it has been suggested that green tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant) contains polyphenols called catechins which may play a role in promoting weight loss, decreasing LDL or “bad” cholesterol, preventing inflammation, and preventing heart disease.
In a 2010 study that lasted 8 weeks, 35 obese participants were divided into 3 groups: those who drank 4 cups water/day, those who drank 4 cups green tea/day and those who took 2 capsules of green tea extract daily. Patients who drank green tea or supplemented with green tea extract showed greater weight loss than the group who had water only. Additionally, a 2005 study with Japanese participants who drank oolong tea high in catechins (from green tea extract) showed reduced weight and body fat after 12 weeks when compared to those who drank tea low in catechins.
Adversely, a 2014 study which assessed the affect of a weight loss beverage containing green tea extract showed no benefit or additional weight loss in participants who drank the beverage. This study found that participants who were involved in an online 12 week behavior modification course experienced greater weight loss results.
A 2013 study by Liu et al., combined data of 17 studies and found that green tea could reduce fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C levels (average blood glucose over a 3 month span), which may have implications in diabetes management. However it is unclear if these results were related to green tea or green tea extract, which populations would most benefit from the intervention, and what dose would be most effective. It is additionally important to note that some studies have linked supplements containing green tea extract to incidents of hepatotoxicity (toxicity to the liver); These concentrated supplements have not been proven to be safe.
If you’re still interested in trying this idea out, I’d recommend the safest source of catechins in their diluted form of a warm, soothing cup of green tea. Don’t forget that your daily food choices, activities, family/ friends, and healthcare team can always be utilized to support your weight management goals.
References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18691042
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20595643
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/1/122.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23920353
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23803878
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23121117
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/960.html
http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442473527