Metabolic and weight effects of green tea extract (EGCG) on Long Evans rats.

With obesity becoming a greater problem in the United States, research has been conducted to study the weight loss and metabolic influences of green tea, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Our experiment sought to determine the metabolic and weight loss properties of green tea extract found in One-A-Day Weight Smart, an over-the-counter herbal weight loss supplement, on 10 adolescent female Long-Evans rats. Metabolic rate was measured by placing the rats in airtight containers and recording the time necessary for the rat to consume 10 mL of oxygen which is directly proportional to the metabolic rate. Experimental rats were fed a drug-rat chow mixture over the course of four weeks while control rats received plain rat chow. Mass and metabolic rate were measured weekly. Statistical analysis of the results indicate that there was no statistically significant difference in weight gain (p =. 15) and no statistically significant difference in the final metabolic rate between the two groups. This outcome indicates that there are other factors influencing weight and metabolic rate. The future for experimentation in this field is extremely important in measuring the effectiveness and possible side effects of over-the-counter supplements.

* Moore, M., *D. Mosher, and * A. Posten. Department of Biological Sciences, Northwest Missouri State University.