Green Coffee Bean Extract Improves Body Composition and Lipid Metabolism in Obese Individuals

by | Nov 19, 2018 | 2017, Blood Lipids, Obesity, Weight Control

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. An energy restricted diet combined with green coffee bean extract significantly reduced the BMI, FMI, total cholesterol, LDL and serum leptins and significantly increased serum adiponectin in the sixty-four participating obese women.

In the United States, obesity is a major health issue, with about 40% of the adult population qualifying as obese in 2016 1. The approach to treating obesity is a multi-factorial one, with the most common strategies involving some combination of behavioral therapy, surgery, drug therapies, and diet interventions2. Recent research now shows that compounds in raw coffee beans, chlorogenic acid (CGA), can support weight management 3,4 by regulating glucose metabolism 5. Green coffee bean extract (GCBE), an extract of unroasted green coffee beans, is rich in CGA, and in animal models, GCBE has been associated with anti-obesity effects and improved body weight 6,7. For overweight and obese individuals, GCBE may be incorporated as part of a healthy weight loss regimen 8,9. In a recent study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017), investigators examined the effects of GCBE in combination with an energy-restricted diet on serum adipocytokines (cell signaling proteins produced by adipose tissue), lipid profile, and body composition in obese women.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a total of 64 obese women (aged 20 to 45 years; Fat Mass Index, FMI, equal to or greater than 8.7 kg/m2 for women aged 25 to 35 years and FMI equal to or greater than 9.9 kg/m2 for women aged 35 to 45 years) were randomized to ingest a capsule containing 400 mg GCBE (equivalent to 180 mg CGA) or a placebo capsule containing 400 mg starch daily for 8 weeks. All subjects were placed on an energy-restricted diet (25% energy deficit through energy restriction: 15% protein, 55% carbohydrate, 30% fat), and dietary intake was recorded using 3-day food records completed before, during, and at the end of the study. At baseline and at the end of 8 weeks, body composition was measured and blood samples collected to determine leptin and adiponectin levels, lipid profile, free fatty acids (FFAs, byproducts of the metabolism of fat in adipose tissues), and fasting blood sugar.

At the end of 8 weeks, after adjusting for energy and fiber intake and physical activity levels, the GCBE group demonstrated greater reduction than the control group in weight (p = 0.03), body mass index (p = 0.02), FMI (p = 0.04), and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.01). Total serum cholesterol (p = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.04), and FFAs (p = 0.001) were also shown to be significantly reduced in the GCBE group. From baseline to the end of the intervention period, serum leptin concentration showed significant reduction (p = 0.001) and serum adiponectin concentration showed significant elevation (p = 0.001) in individuals treated with GCBE.

Thus, evidence from the trial highlights the favorable impact of GCBE, combined with an energy-restricted diet, on body composition and lipid metabolism in obese individuals. CBA-rich GCBE was found not only to improve body weight and lipid profile, but also demonstrated a positive effect on obesity-related hormonal levels. Researchers conclude that as an inexpensive and readily available supplement, GCBE would be beneficial to include as part of a healthy diet to help protect against obesity. A notable limitation of the study involves the use of only two biomarkers for obesity. Moreover, because investigators examined the synergistic effects of an energy-restricted diet and GCBE, it would be important to determine the extent to which GCBE independently contributed to the improvements observed in patients’ body composition and lipid metabolism. Future studies are also needed to establish the dose-response effects of GCBE for the prevention and management of obesity. 

Source: Haidari F, Samadi M, Mohammadshahi M, et al. Energy restriction combined with green coffee bean extract affects serum adipocytokines and the body composition in obese women. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017; 26(6): 1048-1054. DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.022017.03. 

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Posted November 19, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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