More EGCG research and this time with regard to weight loss. This study evaluated the effects of high dose of EGCG (Green Tea Extract) of 826.mg per day on weight loss in women with central obesity (abdominal obesity). To get this dose of EGCG from green tea you would need to drink between between 15 and 40 cups a day  depending on type of tea.  So either way you would be drinking tea all day to get the equivalent EGCG used in this 12 week trial.

The results stated

High-dosage EGCG treatment can significantly reduce body weight in women with central obesity.

High-dosage EGCG treatment has good tolerance among subjects without any side effect or adverse effect.

The mechanism of high-dose EGCG in obesity might be through decreasing the secretion of ghrelin and lead to increase of adiponectin level.

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026156141500134X

This is a promising result and interesting because EGCG  affected hormones involved in hunger, satiation and weight gain.

EGCG inhibited secretion of ghrelin a hormone produced in the stomach that tells the brain when we are hungry. When our stomachs are empty ghrelin increases. However other studies have found Ghrelin to be lower in obese people when compared to lean people. This is puzzling and I did not read the whole paper so don’t know what the authors make of the EGCG affects on ghrelin and how that related to weight loss.

Adiponectin is a protein hormone that modulates a number of metabolic processes, including glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Adiponectin is exclusively secreted from fat tissue into the bloodstream and the levels of adiponectin increase when people loose weight.

What we don’t know is what controls the study had.  E.g. Did they stick to their normal diet?

Interestingly I found an older  study of EGCG and weight loss that used a daily dose of 300mg and found there was no affect on weight loss.