Uso da Camellia Sinensis (chá verde) no tratamento da obesidade

Abstract

In Brazil and around the world, the prevalence of obesity has increased significantly. The treatment and management of obesity remains a challenging issue, particularly in terms of future healthcare costs. Among the treatment approaches are synthetic medications, but they are associated with several adverse effects. Camellia sinensis known as green tea has several flavonoids, antioxidants and catechins that can contribute to reducing body weight. The objective of this review was to describe clinical studies that address the efficacy and safety characteristics of green tea for weight loss and maintenance in overweight or obese adults. A literature review was carried out, with a selection of articles indexed in the PubMed, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. In these advances, search terms were used: “natural products”, “green tea”, “weight loss” and “Camellia sinensis”. The inclusion criteria for clinical studies were as follows: articles published between 2012-2023, in Portuguese and English. For this review, eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials were used. Studies were ongoing in Spain, Brazil, Lithuania, China, Iran, Holland, Italy, and Japan. The number of patients evaluated in the studies ranges from 45 to 169. The studies mainly analyzed body composition, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity, kidney, and liver function. Of the eight studies included, four indicated that Camellia sinensis extract was associated with significant weight loss and/or improved metabolism markers. Not all studies described adverse effects, but in those that did, no adverse effects were observed. The discrepancy between the results of the included studies may be related to differences between groups of participants, duration, dose, and even the production process of the teas or extracts. It is concluded that further studies are necessary to elucidate the thermogenic effect and define safe and effective doses of Camellia sinensis.