Combination of green tea, caffeine, capsaicin and tyrosine increases fat loss by 2 lbs

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 4:16 am Email this article
A supplement containing green tea catechins, caffeine, capsaicin from hot peppers and the amino acid L-tyrosine increased metabolism in overweight people by 20 calories during the following four hours and increased fat loss by 2 pounds after two months according to a study from A. Belza in Denmark. Subjects

Subjects : 80 overweight and obese people

The study involved 80 overweight and obese subjects—62 womena and 18 men—who on average were 46-years-old and had a body mass index (BMI) of 31.2.

 

Diet

Diet : 800 calories for one month

They were put on a diet of 800 calories per day for a month when they lost an average of 15 pounds.

Diet : 300 calories below needs for two month

Those who lost at least 4 percent of their body weight—more than 6.6 pounds—were instructed to eat a diet 300 calories per day below their needs for the next two months.

One-third were given a placebo, another third were give the supplement, and the final third were given the supplement in an enterocoated release tablet.

 

Supplement

Supplement contents

The supplement was taken as nine tablets per day and contained a daily total of:

• 1500 mg of green tea extract containing 375 mg of catechins
• 1200 mg of L-tyrosine
• 300 mg of caffeine—half from the tea extract and half added as caffeine
• 1.2 mg of capsaicin from 450 mg of cayenne pepper consisting of 240,000 heat units
• 2000 mg of calcium from 3890 mg of calcium carbonate

Supplement taken one hour before meals

The supplement was taken as three tablets, one hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Weight Loss

Weight loss : No difference

There was no significant difference in weight loss between the groups after the two month period.

 

Fat Loss

Fat loss : 2.2 lbs greater fat loss with supplement

After two months, those give the combination of green tea catechins, caffeine, capsaicin and L-tyrosine lost 2.2 pounds more body fat than those given a placebo—4 pounds of fat with the supplement versus 1.8 pounds for those given the placebo.

 

Thermogenesis

No decrease in thermogenesis after two months on supplement

Thermogenesis increased by an average of 20 calories during the four hours following taking the supplement.

The total increase in metabolism for the day is expected to be in the range of 70-100 calories per day according to the paper.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion : Combination of ingredients may help to maintain weight loss

“In conclusion, the combination of these bioactive food ingredients may be of value in supporting weight maintenance after a weight reduction,” Belza concluded.

 

Comments

Comments : The results are not too convincing

The results are not very convincing.

When I see a study reporting increased fat loss, but no additional weight loss compared to placebo, I’m suspicious.

It does not give me much hope long-term results of any significance.

Study funded by Metabolife, but product not available

The study was funded by Metabolife, although the paper notes that the product is not commercially available.

REFERENCE

Belza A, Frandsen E, Kondrup J. Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis by a combination of bioactive food ingredients: A placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Jan, 31(1):121-30.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

A. Belza
Department of Human Nutrition
The Centre for Advanced Food Studies
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
Rolighedsvej 30
DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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