Metabolic effects of green tea and of phases of weight loss

Abstract

The effect of ingestion of green tea (GT) extract along with a low-energy diet (LED) on health-related blood parameters, and the relationships among changes in metabolic parameters and phases of weight loss were assessed. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design was used. 46 female subjects (BMI 27.7+/-1.8 kg/m(2)) were fed in energy balance from days 1 to 3, followed by a LED with GT (n=23) or placebo (PLAC, n=23) from days 4 to 87. The LED-period consisted of a phase 1 of 4 weeks (days 4-32) followed by a phase 2 of 8 weeks (days 32-87). Body composition and fasting blood samples were determined on days 4, 32 and 87. No significant differences were observed between the blood parameters of the PLAC and GT group. In phase 1 compared to phase 2 the rate of weight loss was 0.09+/-0.05 kg/day vs. 0.03+/-0.03 kg/day (p<0.001); Fat free mass (FFM) was 21% of weight loss in phase 1 vs. 7% in phase 2 (ns). Surprisingly, favourable changes in free fatty acids, triacylglycerol, beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and total cholesterol in phase 1 were reversed in phase 2 (p<0.01). Taken together, GT supplementation during a LED had no effect on health-related blood parameters. Initial improvements in several blood measures at day 32 were reversed by day 87, despite continued weight loss. Modest weight loss improved HDL cholesterol and blood pressure.