2013-06-18 14:30:18
It has received a lot of hype over the last six months or so as the latest and greatest weight loss aid. Unofficially being endorsed by Dr. Oz, it has flown off shelves in stores across the country. But does it work? Based on preliminary research and what we know about the active ingredient in Green Coffee Bean Extract(GCBE), chlorogenic acid, yes it is does have the ability to enhance weight loss but not to the extent that people may think.(1) As much as we’d all like to believe there is a magic pill that will do all the work for us, no such thing exists. Diet and exercise are the foundation to healthy weight loss. Various supplements, including Green Coffee Bean Extract, can be supportive and a helpful aid in the process. That being said not all GCBE are made equal. It appears to be necessary for the chlorogenic acid content to be at least 45% for it to be effective. The recommended dose is 400mg, three times a day – 30 minutes before a meal.Based on the few studies to date it appears to have minimal side effects however caution must be used especially since not enough research has been done that ensures its safety in humans.
References
1) Vinson JA, Burnham BR, Nagendran MV. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, linear dose, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2012;5:21-7.