Green Coffee Bean Extract Contributions by FoundHealth

Just as black tea is made by processing green tea leaves from their original state, ordinary coffee is made by roasting green coffee beans. This processing alters the chemical makeup of the plant product. In an analogy to the medicinal study of green tea , an extract made from green coffee beans is undergoing increasing investigation as a possible health-promoting supplement.

Like green tea, green coffee bean extracts (GCBE) contains strong antioxidants in the polyphenol family. Polyphenols protect body issues against damage caused by free oxygen radicals, and are found in many foods like tomatoes, apples, chocolate, coffee and tea.

Chlorogenic Acid

The primary polyphenol antioxidants in green coffee bean extract are in a family known as chlorogenic acids (CGA). Meaningful, if still preliminary, evidence hints that CGA may help reduce blood pressure. Other proposed uses of GCBE are based primarily on its caffeine content, as well as observational studies of ordinary coffee consumption and the possible health benefits of antioxidants in general.

Because Green Coffee Bean Extract’s popularity is a recent phenomenon, the body of research supporting its health benefits or detriments is minimal. Still, a few human studies and several more animal studies researching the impact of GCBE on health have been conducted. The strongest (but still relatively weak) body of evidence supports GCBE's positive impacts on weight and blood pressure, with some sparse evidence suggesting its benefits as a diabetes treatment. For simplicity, the health challenge addressed by each study is presented in bold before the study’s summary.

Human Studies-

GCBE causes weight loss?

Weight Loss. A clinical study released in January 2012 showed outstanding results for GCBE’s potential in reducing body weight, and is largely responsible for the current buzz around the product. 16 subjects (8 male/female) with a mean age of 33 years old were studied over the course of 22 weeks. Over the course of the study, subjects consumed a high daily dose (1050 mg), a low-dose (700 mg), and a placebo for three 6-week periods. The results of the study showed an average weight loss of 8.04 kg, a decrease in body mass index by 2.92 kg/m², a reduction of percent body fat by 4.44%, and a slow down of heart rate by 2.56 beats per minute. At the beginning of the study all 16 participants were classified as overweight, and by the end of the study 6 of those people had entered the normal weight range.

Though promising, it should be noted that the daily dose of 700-1050 mg per day was much higher than other studies, which normally used doses ranging from 180-200 mg/day. With that said, the participants in this study did not experience any adverse side effects.

Weight Loss. A study of 30 individuals with medium to above average weight (BMI 27.5-32.5 kg/m^2) showed GCBE to have a moderately significant impact on weight. Half of the group consumed regular black coffee for 12 weeks (placebo), while the other half drank black coffee fortified with GCBE. The results showed an average weight loss of 5.4 kg for the GCBE group, compared to a 1.4 kg average loss for the placebo group. An additional portion of the study suggested that this weight loss may be due to changes that GCBE causes in intestinal glucose absorption (put simply, it may reduce the amount of sugar we absorb).

Though promising, the previous two studies should be taken with a grain of salt, as both used a small sample size.

GCBE shown to lower Blood Pressure.

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 117 males with mild hypertension, GCBE was given for one month at 46 mg, 93 mg, or 185 mg daily. 2 After 28 days, the results showed a significant improvement in blood pressure as compared to placebo in the 93 mg and 185 mg groups. The results seen were dose-related, meaning that the greater the dose, the greater the improvement. The finding of dose-relatedness tends to increase the likelihood that a studied treatment is actually effective.

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 28 Japanese with mild hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure of 140-159 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90-99 mmHg) were participants in a GCBE study. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of the group consumed fruit juice containing Green Coffee Bean Extract, while the other half drank fruit juice with no extract added (placebo). Around 500 mg of GCBE was added to the juice. Results showed that while the placebo group showed no reduction in blood pressure, the GCBE consuming group both had statistically significant reductions to their systolic and diastolic blood pressures⁴.

Animal Studies-

Hypertension. A study on two different rat species showed that both a single oral dose and a long-term daily dose (6 week) of GCBE caused a reduction in blood pressure. However, the experiment did not actually use GCBE, but rather an active ingredient in the extract that is thought to cause the anti-hypertensive effects. What makes this study interesting is that it compared the impact of Green Coffee Bean Extract to Roasted Coffee extract. The results showed that roasted coffee extract had no correlation with reduced blood pressure, revealing the especially unique nature of GCBE.

Other. GCBE products are sometimes said to help prevent diabetes; however, this claim derives only from weak evidence involving consumption of ordinary coffee, ¹ and cannot be relied upon at all.

Roasted (as opposed to green) coffee beans contain the substances kahweol and cafestol, which appear to increase levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol). ² The fact that GCBE does not contain these substances is used as an argument in its favor. However, these substances remain in the coffee grounds and so they are also not present in standard beverage coffee, so this is probably not a significant point. (Unfiltered or boiled coffee, with the grounds left in, however, may present a risk.)

References

1. Kozuma K, Tsuchiya S, Kohori J et al. Antihypertensive effect of green coffee bean extract on mildly hypertensive subjects. Hypertens Res . 2006;28:711-8.
2. Watanabe T, Arai Y, Mitsui Y et al. The blood pressure-lowering effect and safety of chlorogenic Acid from green coffee bean extract in essential hypertension. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2006;28:439-49.
3. Suzuki A, Yamamoto N, Jokura H et al. Chlorogenic acid attenuates hypertension and improves endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens . 2006;24:1065-73.
4. Shimoda H, Seki E and Aitani M. Inhibitory effect of green coffee bean extract on fat accumulation and body weight gain in mice. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006;6:9
5. Arion WJ, Canfield WK, Ramos FC, et al. Chlorogenic acid and hydroxynitrobenzaldehyde: new inhibitors of hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase. Arch Biochem Biophys . 1997;339:315–322.
6. Van Dam RM, Feskens EJ. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet . 2002;360:1477–1478.
7. Ranheim T, Halvorsen B. Coffee consumption and human health--beneficial or detrimental?--Mechanisms for effects of coffee consumption on different risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mol Nutr Food Res . 2005;49:274-84

Just as black tea is made by processing green tea leaves from their original state, ordinary coffee is made by roasting green coffee beans. This processing alters the chemical makeup of the plant product. In an analogy to the medicinal study of green tea , an extract made from green coffee beans is undergoing increasing investigation as a possible health-promoting supplement.

Like green tea, green coffee bean extracts (GCBE) contains strong antioxidants in the polyphenol family. Polyphenols protect body issues against damage caused by free oxygen radicals, and are found in many foods like tomatoes, apples, chocolate, coffee and tea.

Chlorogenic Acid

The primary polyphenol antioxidants in green coffee bean extract are in a family known as chlorogenic acids (CGA). Meaningful, if still preliminary, evidence hints that CGA may help reduce blood pressure. Other proposed uses of GCBE are based primarily on its caffeine content, as well as observational studies of ordinary coffee consumption and the possible health benefits of antioxidants in general.

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Just as black tea is made by processing green tea leaves from their original state, ordinary coffee is made by roasting green coffee beans. This processing alters the chemical makeup of the plant product. In an analogy to the medicinal study of green tea , an extract made from green coffee beans is undergoing increasing investigation as a possible health-promoting supplement.

Like green tea, green coffee bean extracts (GCBE) contains strong antioxidants in the polyphenol family. Polyphenols protect body issues against damage caused by free oxygen radicals, and are found in many foods like tomatoes, apples, chocolate, coffee and tea.

Chlorogenic Acid

The primary polyphenol antioxidants in green coffee bean extract are in a family known as chlorogenic acids (CGA). Meaningful, if still preliminary, evidence hints that CGA may help reduce blood pressure. Other proposed uses of GCBE are based primarily on its caffeine content, as well as observational studies of ordinary coffee consumption and the possible health benefits of antioxidants in general.

Because Green Coffee Bean Extract’s popularity is a recent phenomenon, the body of research supporting its health benefits or detriments is minimal. Still, a few human studies and several more animal studies researching the impact of GCBE on health have been conducted. The strongest (but still relatively weak) body of evidence supports GCBE's positive impacts on weight and blood pressure, with some sparse evidence suggesting its benefits as a diabetes treatment. For simplicity, the health challenge addressed by each study is presented in bold before the study’s summary.

Human Studies-

GCBE causes weight loss?

Weight Loss. A clinical study released in January 2012 showed outstanding results for GCBE’s potential in reducing body weight, and is largely responsible for the current buzz around the product. 16 subjects (8 male/female) with a mean age of 33 years old were studied over the course of 22 weeks. Over the course of the study, subjects consumed a high daily dose (1050 mg), a low-dose (700 mg), and a placebo for three 6-week periods. The results of the study showed an average weight loss of 8.04 kg, a decrease in body mass index by 2.92 kg/m², a reduction of percent body fat by 4.44%, and a slow down of heart rate by 2.56 beats per minute. At the beginning of the study all 16 participants were classified as overweight, and by the end of the study 6 of those people had entered the normal weight range.

Though promising, it should be noted that the daily dose of 700-1050 mg per day was much higher than other studies, which normally used doses ranging from 180-200 mg/day. With that said, the participants in this study did not experience any adverse side effects.

Weight Loss. A study of 30 individuals with medium to above average weight (BMI 27.5-32.5 kg/m^2) showed GCBE to have a moderately significant impact on weight. Half of the group consumed regular black coffee for 12 weeks (placebo), while the other half drank black coffee fortified with GCBE. The results showed an average weight loss of 5.4 kg for the GCBE group, compared to a 1.4 kg average loss for the placebo group. An additional portion of the study suggested that this weight loss may be due to changes that GCBE causes in intestinal glucose absorption (put simply, it may reduce the amount of sugar we absorb).

Though promising, the previous two studies should be taken with a grain of salt, as both used a small sample size.

GCBE shown to lower Blood Pressure.

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 117 males with mild hypertension, GCBE was given for one month at 46 mg, 93 mg, or 185 mg daily. 2 After 28 days, the results showed a significant improvement in blood pressure as compared to placebo in the 93 mg and 185 mg groups. The results seen were dose-related, meaning that the greater the dose, the greater the improvement. The finding of dose-relatedness tends to increase the likelihood that a studied treatment is actually effective.

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 28 Japanese with mild hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure of 140-159 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90-99 mmHg) were participants in a GCBE study. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of the group consumed fruit juice containing Green Coffee Bean Extract, while the other half drank fruit juice with no extract added (placebo). Around 500 mg of GCBE was added to the juice. Results showed that while the placebo group showed no reduction in blood pressure, the GCBE consuming group both had statistically significant reductions to their systolic and diastolic blood pressures⁴.

Animal Studies-

Hypertension. A study on two different rat species showed that both a single oral dose and a long-term daily dose (6 week) of GCBE caused a reduction in blood pressure. However, the experiment did not actually use GCBE, but rather an active ingredient in the extract that is thought to cause the anti-hypertensive effects. What makes this study interesting is that it compared the impact of Green Coffee Bean Extract to Roasted Coffee extract. The results showed that roasted coffee extract had no correlation with reduced blood pressure, revealing the especially unique nature of GCBE.

Other. GCBE products are sometimes said to help prevent diabetes; however, this claim derives only from weak evidence involving consumption of ordinary coffee, ¹ and cannot be relied upon at all.

Roasted (as opposed to green) coffee beans contain the substances kahweol and cafestol, which appear to increase levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol). ² The fact that GCBE does not contain these substances is used as an argument in its favor. However, these substances remain in the coffee grounds and so they are also not present in standard beverage coffee, so this is probably not a significant point. (Unfiltered or boiled coffee, with the grounds left in, however, may present a risk.)

In the large human trial of GCBE for hypertension noted above, the extract was most effective when taken at a dose of 185 mg daily.

Since green coffee bean extract typically contains about 30% chlorogenic acids, this works out to a dose of about 60 mg of chlorogenic acids daily. Another study used 140 mg of purified chlorogenic acids daily.

Safety Issues

GC Beans (blog.lef.org)

The lack of large-scale human trials on Green CoffeeBean Extract has caused there to be minimal evidence on its potential long-term side effects. Generally, it is thought to be a safe substance.

In human trials, no significant adverse effects have been seen.

• In the 117 person male study that showed promising results in reducing blood pressure, no adverse effects from GCBE were shown in the physical, clinical, or medicine/history examinations. (Read more about GCBE & Blood Pressure)

• Similarly, in the study of 28 Japanese patients taking GCBE for two months, no serious side effects coincided with the extracts beneficial impact on hypertension. Long-term ingestion of the extract did not change any biochemical balances in the blood- serum iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and vitamin B1 levels stayed in balance throughout the treatment. In this study, a physician judged the clinical safety by assessing side effects, lending credibility to the study.

Green Coffee Bean Extract has been correlated with weight loss, and as with any other weight loss substance, there is good reason to be cautious. Taking any substance meant for weight loss can have adverse side effects if used irrationally. Before choosing to use GCBE, consult your physician to see if its right for you. (Read More about GCBE & Weight Loss.)

In theory, the caffeine content of GCBE could potentially cause problems for some people. However, since GCBE contains only about 10% caffeine by weight, a high daily dose contains no more than about 20% of the caffeine content of a strong cup of coffee. If you are experiencing adverse symptoms, it is a good idea to research the side effects of caffeine, as this compound may be the reason GCBE is giving you problems.

Maximum safe doses in pregnant or nursing women, young children, or people with liver or kidney disease have not been established.