Green tea, especially in the extract form, is viewed as a weight loss aid. Research has identified its main bioactive component to be a polyphenol called EGCG. Green tea also contains caffeine, and the combination of EGCG and caffeine may work together to enhance fat burning and promote fat loss.
Researchers from Germany performed a detailed study to examine the short-term effects of caffeine and two doses of EGCG on measures of fat burning. In a double-blind cross-over study, obese men supplemented daily for 3 days with either a placebo, 300 mg of EGCG, 600 mg of EGCG, 200 mg of caffeine, or a combination of 300 mg of EGCG and 200 mg of caffeine.
On day three of supplementation, subjects rested quietly for eight hours while measures of fat oxidation were made before and after a standardized meal. Fasting measures of fat oxidation were increased for the low dose EGCG (8%), high dose EGCG (15%), caffeine (26%), and combined EGCG/caffeine (35%) trials. Measures of fat oxidation after the standardized meal were increased for the low dose EGCG (33%), high dose EGCG (20%), caffeine (35%), and combined EGCG/caffeine (49%) trials.
These findings support the use of about 300 mg of EGCG from green tea per day for increasing fat burning. Higher doses did not improve fat burning results. Short-term supplementation with either EGCG or caffeine alone showed positive effects, but the combination resulted in the highest rates of fat oxidation.
It should be noted that green tea contains only a small amount of caffeine. Therefore, the caffeine must be taken as a separate supplement.
GREGORY CHANDLER, Attorney at Law
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