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Supplements

Green tea extract

Green tea extract is a concentrated supplement of tea catechins such as EGCG, sold for fat burning; its weight effect is small and it can harm the liver.

Clinician review pending Updated Supplements
DefinitionGreen tea extract is a concentrated supplement of tea catechins such as EGCG, sold for fat burning; its weight effect is small and it can harm the liver.

What it means

Green tea contains caffeine and catechins, especially EGCG, which may slightly raise energy use and fat burning. Concentrated extracts pack much more of these compounds than a cup of tea.

Studies of green tea products for weight loss show small effects at best, often not enough to matter clinically.

Safety is the bigger issue. The NIH's LiverTox database rates green tea extract as a well-established cause of clinically apparent liver injury, including rare cases of liver failure, death or need for a transplant. The amount of EGCG varies widely between products. Brewed tea in normal amounts is generally considered safe.

Signs of liver injury include unusual tiredness, nausea, dark urine, pale stools and yellow skin or eyes. Stop the supplement and get medical care if they appear.

Why it matters

Green tea extract shows that 'natural' supplements can carry serious risks with little benefit.

Related terms

Rx vs OTCBerberineGLP-1 patches and dropsDoes green tea help with weight lossDo supplements help with weight loss

Sources

  1. NIH LiverTox: Green tea
  2. NIH ODS: Dietary supplements for weight loss

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error