Go Green for Exercise

Green tea (Camelia sinensis) is an abundant source of antioxidants – notably, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).  Justin D Roberts, from the University of Anglia (United Kingdom), and colleagues enrolled 14 active men, average age 21 years, to receive a decaffeinated green tea extract supplement (400 mg of EGCG/day) or placebo, who cycled for 1 hour 3 times a week, for four weeks.  Among the group receiving the green tea extract supplement, fat oxidation rates rose by 25% and body fat decreased 1.63%; no changes in these parameters were observed in the control group.  As well, exercise performance improved by 10.9% in the supplemented group.  Submitting that: “A 4 week [decaffeinated green tea extract] intervention favourably enhanced substrate utilisation and subsequent performance indices,” the study authors conclude that: “The results support the use of catechin polyphenols from [decaffeinated green tea extract] in combination with exercise training in recreationally active volunteers.”