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Green tea catechins improve abdominal fat oxidation |
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Over 72 million adults in the US are overweight or obese. Excess abdominal fat is linked to increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Green tea catechins have been suggested to have fat oxidation effect and may have a favourable effect on body composition. A study conducted at University of Geneva found that green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content. The green tea extract may play a role in the control of body composition via sympathetic activation of thermogenesis or fat oxidation[1].
In a more recent study Kevin Maki and co-workers found that green tea catechins enhanced exercise induced changes in abdominal fat [2]. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin intake on body composition and abdominal fat oxidation in overweight and obese adults during exercise-induced weight loss. In order to measure the effect of the catechins, the control group received a drink containing same quantity of caffeine than in the catechin group. There was not much difference in total body mass but the catechin group showed a greater reduction in abdominal fat and fasting serum triglycerides. Total and lipoprotein cholesterol responses did not differ between the groups. The study concluded that more studies are required to determine the mechanism responsible for the abdominal fat oxidation by tea catechins
[1] Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Dec;70(6):1040-5.
[2] Green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss in overweight and obese adults. J Nutr. 2009 Feb;139(2):264-70.
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