Green tea catechins promote thermogenesis that burns body fat
Green tea and thermogenesis: interactions between catechin-polyphenols, caffeine and sympathetic activity.
By Dulloo AG, Seydoux J, Girardier L, Chantre P, Vandermander J
Published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders. 2000 Feb;24(2):252-8
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Overview
The thermogenic (fat burning) effect of green tea is not due to its small content of natural caffeine, these researchers found.
Results
They reported that a green tea extract stimulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis to an extent which is much greater than can be attributed to its caffeine content per se.
They suggested that its thermogenic properties could reside primarily in an interaction between its high content in catechin-polyphenols and caffeine with sympathetically released noradrenaline (NA).
Conclusion
They proposed that green tea extract, via its catechin-polyphenols and caffeine, is effective in stimulating thermogenesis by relieving inhibition at different control points along the NA-cAMP axis.
This would prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis and so could be of value in assisting the management of obesity.
