Does green tea catechin enhance weight-loss effect of exercise training in overweight and obese individuals? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #body-composition #catechin #exercise #lipids

Does green tea catechin enhance weight-loss effect of exercise training in overweight and obese individuals? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Gholami et al., 2024 | J Int Soc Sports Nutr | Meta Analysis

Citation

Gholami Farhad, Antonio Jose, ... Pereira Flavia. Does green tea catechin enhance weight-loss effect of exercise training in overweight and obese individuals? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2024-Dec;21(1):2411029. doi:10.1080/15502783.2024.2411029

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Green tea (GT) is a common component of supplements known as fat burners. It has gained popularity as an ergogenic aid for weight reduction to assist with obesity management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to explore the effect of green tea ingestion coupled with exercise training (EX) on body composition and lipid profile in overweight and obese individuals. METHODS: Two independent researchers systematically searched the electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies with a randomized-controlled design to compare the effect of green tea in conjunction with exercise training (EX+GT) versus exercise training alone (EX+P) in overweight or obese participants were included. RESULTS: Of the 1,015 retrieved studies, 24 were identified to undergo full-text review, out of which 10 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. EX+GT versus EX+P had a small and consistent effect on weight [Standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.30, CI: -0.53 to -0.07], BMI [SMD = -0.33 CI: -0.64 to -0.02] and fat reduction [SMD = -0.29, CI: -0.57 to -0.01] and there was no evidence of heterogeneity across the trials. When compared to EX+P, EX+GT had no greater effect on lipid profile improvement [triglyceride: SMD = -0.92, CI: -1.30 to 0.49; LDL: SMD = -1.44, CI: -0.73 to 0.82; HDL: SMD = 0.56, CI -0.71 to 0.46; and total cholesterol SMD = -0.54, CI -0.85 to 0.13]. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that green tea could have quite minimal additive benefit over exercise-induced weight loss. However, incorporation of green tea into exercise training does not seem to exert additional benefits on lipid profile and it warrants further investigations in the future.

Key Findings

Of the 1,015 retrieved studies, 24 were identified to undergo full-text review, out of which 10 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. EX+GT versus EX+P had a small and consistent effect on weight [Standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.30, CI: -0.53 to -0.07], BMI [SMD = -0.33 CI: -0.64 to -0.02] and fat reduction [SMD = -0.29, CI: -0.57 to -0.01] and there was no evidence of heterogeneity across the trials. When compared to EX+P, EX+GT had no greater effect on lipid profile improvement

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Body Composition
  • Catechin
  • Exercise
  • Lipids
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Tea
  • Weight Loss

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: green-tea-metabolic

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09