title: Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that a continuous intake of a catechin beverage will reduce body fat. Traditionally, improvement of eating and exercise habits has been the basis for prevention and reduction of obesity. In this study, we conducted a trial involving human subjects who ingested a catechin beverage for 1 year under nutritional guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted based on a comprehensive cohort design using a catechin beverage (containing 588 mg of tea catechins) and a control beverage (containing 126 mg of tea catechins). At both the start and the end of the trial, the subjects underwent an annual health check and computer tomography for measurement of their abdominal fat. In addition, a food intake survey was conducted and all subjects were provided nutritional guidance by a registered dietitian every 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analyzed using per protocol samples of 134 subjects (catechin group, n = 77; control group, n = 57). Body weight and body mass index were reduced significantly in the catechin group compared to the control group. Changes in body weight during the study period were -1.1 kg in the catechin group and 0.2 kg in the control group. In the catechin group, the visceral fat areas at the start of the trial were significantly correlated with the magnitude of fat reduction at the end of the trial. Under the guidance of a registered dietitian, subjects in the catechin group who showed a reduction in their fat-derived energy percentage during the test period tended to reduce more body weight than those with an increase in this percentage, although no difference in total energy intake was noted between the two groups. One-year ad libitum consumption of a catechin beverage posed no health risks and resulted in a reduction in body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An overall improvement in dietary habits might enhance the weight-reduction effect of the beverage.
authors: Kansai Health Administration Center, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Yoneda
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Shoji
authors: Hideto
authors: H
authors: Takase
authors: Masanobu
authors: M
authors: Hibi
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Hase
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Meguro
authors: Ichiro
authors: I
authors: Tokimitsu
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Kambe
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001628:Beverages; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002392:Catechin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D013662:Tea; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin