[Effects of Catechin] From Diet to Adult Disease Management, 3 Benefits of Catechin

Dec 03, 2023KimSunhyo

[Effects of Catechin] From Diet to Adult Disease

Management, 3 Benefits of Catechin

Catechin

Amaing Effects of Catechin

This content is health information about ingredients and not directly related to a specific product.

Effects of Catechin

1. Reduces body weight, body fat mass, waist circumference, and fat area.
2. Reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
3. Alleviates diabetes.

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

Up until now, many diet ingredients have been introduced, but if we were to mention the most well-known ones, it might be Garcinia Cambogia extract and green tea extract. Since we've already discussed Garcinia Cambogia before, today, let's take a closer look at green tea extract.

Green tea contains various compounds, including caffeine and theanine, but the credit for making green tea a dietary aid largely goes to a component called "catechins." Catechins are a type of polyphenol found in green tea and are responsible for its bitter taste.

Catechins are known to increase fat oxidation, which can help with weight loss. Additionally, they are known to support cardiovascular health through their antioxidant properties. Furthermore, catechins have been found to offer various health benefits, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects.

Now, let's take a look at the specific benefits of catechin consumption through research papers.

1. Reduces Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, Waist Circumference, and Fat Area.

When it comes to comparing the effects of diet supplements on weight loss, catechins rank among the top. This is why green tea extract catechins are included in most diet supplements available on the market.

Consuming catechins accelerates our body's basal metabolic rate, making it convert stored fat into energy more quickly. This results in the reduction of body fat.

In this context, let me introduce the results of a large-scale human clinical trial involving 240 participants. They divided 240 men and women with visceral fat-type obesity into a consumption group and a control group. Only the consumption group was instructed to take 583mg of catechins daily. Significant improvements were observed only in the consumption group as follows.

"Weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, body fat mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area reduction were all more significant in the catechin consumption group compared to the control group."

Reference : Nagao, T., Hase, T., & Tokimitsu, I. (2007). A green tea extract high in catechins reduces body fat and cardiovascular risks in humans. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 15(6), 1473–1483.

2. Reduces Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels.

The reason we need to be cautious about obesity is that it can lead to complications such as hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia refers to a state where there are high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, meaning that there is a high amount of fat in the blood. Hypercholesterolemia can silently damage blood vessels over time without any specific symptoms and is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Therefore, in order to prevent adult diseases, it's important to manage body weight and regularly monitor blood lipid levels through blood tests.

In 2018, a human clinical trial with catechins was conducted on patients with mild hypercholesterolemia. The study involved 60 patients who were divided into three groups, and each group was instructed to consume catechin-containing green tea, catechin-containing oolong tea, or a placebo.

After 12 weeks, the groups that consumed catechin-containing green tea and catechin-containing oolong tea showed significant reductions in body weight, body fat, as well as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Additionally, it was confirmed that even mild fatty liver conditions were restored to normal liver conditions.

"Consumption of CEGT (Catechin-Enriched Green Tea) and CEOT (Catechin-Enriched Oolong Tea) significantly reduced body weight, fat, BMI, lipid peroxidation, and lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides). Furthermore, the intake of CEGT and CEOT significantly improved oxidative indices (TEAC and GSH) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR). Moreover, ultrasound examinations supported the liver-protective activity of CEGT and CEOT by reverting mild fatty liver conditions to normal liver conditions through antioxidant and lipid-lowering activities."

Reference : Venkatakrishnan, K., , Chiu, H. F., , Cheng, J. C., , Chang, Y. H., , Lu, Y. Y., , Han, Y. C., , Shen, Y. C., , Tsai, K. S., , & Wang, C. K., (2018). Comparative studies on the hypolipidemic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of catechin-enriched green and oolong tea in a double-blind clinical trial. Food & function, 9(2), 1205–1213.

1. Decrease Body Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Increase Muscle Mass Compared to Fat Mass

As previously mentioned, it is known that the prevalence of diabetes increases as obesity becomes more prevalent. Obesity is associated with higher levels of insulin resistance. When insulin resistance is high, blood sugar regulation becomes less effective, causing the pancreas to continuously produce more insulin to control blood sugar levels.

If this situation of the pancreas working harder to control blood sugar continues for a long time, it can eventually lead to the development of diabetes. Therefore, for individuals in the prediabetes stage or those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes and are also obese, weight loss is not just a choice but a necessity.

There have been accumulating reports that catechin consumption can assist in weight control and alleviate diabetes. In a review paper published in the prestigious journal Nutrients last year, the authors reviewed 180 previous studies and reported the following:

"Catechins alleviate diabetes by improving insulin resistance, reducing oxidative stress, regulating mitochondrial function, relieving endoplasmic reticulum stress, creating anti-inflammatory effects, reducing blood sugar levels, and regulating gut function."

Reference : Wen, L., Wu, D., Tan, X., Zhong, M., Xing, J., Li, W., Li, D., & Cao, F. (2022). The Role of Catechins in Regulating Diabetes: An Update Review. Nutrients, 14(21), 4681..

Today, we looked into the dietary supplement, catechins from green tea extract. Based on the research we've examined, regular consumption of catechins not only leads to noticeable weight loss but can also be significantly helpful in preventing and managing various adult diseases. In fact, I've observed people around me who, while dieting and taking catechins, achieved good results in their weight loss efforts.

However, due to the nature of green tea extract, it may contain a small amount of caffeine. Therefore, individuals who are sensitive to caffeine should be cautious when consuming it, and they should be aware that mild restlessness or insomnia may occur when taken.

Additionally, the Korean Food and Drug Administration advises that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid consumption, and individuals with liver conditions should consult a healthcare professional. Please keep these points in mind.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.

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