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Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and postprandial fat oxidation in overweight/obese male volunteers: a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives:

Drinking green tea is associated with many health benefits, including increased fat oxidation. We tested the hypothesis that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main green tea catechin, increases fat oxidation in obese men.

Methods:

Ten healthy overweight/obese males (body mass index 31.3±0.8 kg/m2) were studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial. Study supplements were low EGCG (300 mg), high EGCG (600 mg), caffeine (200 mg), EGCG/caffeine (300 mg/200 mg) or placebo and were taken orally for 3 days. At the third day of supplementation, O2 consumption and CO2 production was measured by indirect calorimetry to assess energy expenditure and fat oxidation over 4 h each after overnight fasting and after a standardized test meal.

Results:

Energy expenditure was not affected by any supplementation, neither after overnight fasting nor after the test meal. During the first 2 h after overnight fasting, fat oxidation increased by 7.7 (not significant, NS), 15.2 (NS), 26.3 (P<0.05 vs placebo) and 35.4% (P<0.01 vs placebo and low EGCG), for low EGCG, high EGCG, caffeine and EGCG/caffeine, respectively. During the first 2 h after the meal, the mean increase in fat oxidation was 33.3 (P<0.05 vs placebo), 20.2 (NS), 34.5 (P<0.05 vs placebo) and 49.4% (P<0.05 vs placebo) for low EGCG, high EGCG, caffeine and EGCG/caffeine, respectively.

Conclusions:

Low EGCG increases postprandial fat oxidation in obese men and this to the same extent as 200 mg caffeine, whereas high EGCG does not exert this effect. Fasting fat oxidation is increased only by caffeine (with or without EGCG). There is no synergism of low EGCG and 200 mg caffeine. Energy expenditure is not affected by EGCG.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Richard Gössl (DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) for expert technical assistance. Gritt Stoffels and Stefan Engeli (University Hospital Charité Campus Buch, Berlin, Germany) were involved in the recruitment and assessment of volunteers in all human studies. The authors thank Dr Frida Dangardt (Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden) for assisting in statistical analysis and Dr Marcella Trembley (DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) for critical reading of the paper. Funding for this study was provided by DSM Nutritional Products.

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Correspondence to M Boschmann.

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FT is employed by DSM Nutritional Products. The results of this study have no effect on his employment status.

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Contributors: FT, MB, AB and JJ designed the research; GF, JB, AB, FA and MB performed the research; FT and MB analyzed the data; and FT and MB wrote the paper.

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Thielecke, F., Rahn, G., Böhnke, J. et al. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and postprandial fat oxidation in overweight/obese male volunteers: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 704–713 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.47

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