title: Effect of green tea extract on obese women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of green tea extract (GTE) on obese women and to explore the relationship between GTE and obesity-related hormone peptides.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from July 2006 to June 2007 in Taipei Hospital, Taiwan. Seventy-eight of 100 obese women aged between 16 and 60 years with BMI>27 kg/m(2) and who had not received any other weight control maneuvers within the last 3 months completed this study. The subjects were randomly divided into Groups A and B. Group A (n=41) received GTE while Group B (n=37) took cellulose as a placebo, one capsule (400mg) three times each day for 12 weeks. The body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumflex (WC) were measured at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks of treatment with GTE. The data were compared and expressed as % reduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was only a 0.3% reduction in BW (0.15 kg) after 12 weeks of treatment with GTE. There was no statistical difference in % reduction in BW, BMI and WC between the GTE and placebo groups. Within group comparison revealed that the GTE group had significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride, and marked increase in the level of HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin and ghrelin. On the other hand, the placebo group showed significant reduction in triglyceride only, and a marked increase in the level of ghrelin alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed no statistical difference in % reduction in BW, BMI and WC between the GTE and placebo groups after 12 weeks of treatment. The intake of GTE (491 mg catechins containing 302 mg EGCG) for 12 weeks is considered safe as shown by the results.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yung-Hsi
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Kung-Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ting-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D054439:Ghrelin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol