Green tea may may promote thermogenesis

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December 13, 1999

Green Tea May Be Dieter's Best Friend

A recent study by researchers from the University of Geneva in Geneva,

Switzerland, suggests that green tea extract may increase metabolic rates

and speed up fat oxidation.

These researchers studied 10 healthy young non-dieting men who were lean to

mildly overweight. They were prescribed a non-weight-loss diet averaging 40

percent fat. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three

treatments at each meal: green tea extract containing 50 mg of caffeine, 50

mg of caffeine alone, or a placebo capsule.

Participants also underwent measurement of thermogenesis (the rate at which

calories are burned) and energy expenditure three different times during the

course of the study. Thermogenesis increased by four percent, and their

overall energy expenditure increased by 4.5 percent.

Participants who received only the caffeine experienced no change in

thermogenesis; therefore, the researchers believe that increases in

thermogenesis and overall energy expenditure were due to the green tea

extract and not the caffeine present in the tea. Despite the fact that many

throughout the world drink coffee and tea, only the effects of coffee on

thermogenesis have been studied by way of research on caffeine.

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