Is using green coffee bean extract for weight loss or justified by research or backed by industry hype?

What Is It?

 Despite the mocha-brown imagery that has been embedded in our minds, coffee beans are actually green. Through roasting, the beans undergo chemical and physical changes that lead to the brownish hue we are more familiar with. A consequence of roasting is the reduction of certain chemical compounds including chlorogenic acid (CGA). CGA is believed to promote fat loss and as result green coffee beans are processed and reduced to an extract for supplementation.

While roasted coffee beans also contain chlorogenic acid, the key difference is green coffee beans contain higher, unmodified quantities of the substance (roasting converts CGA into lactone structures).    

How (It’s Supposed) To Work 

The actual method of fat burning in humans is unknown but rodent and in-vitro studies provide two possibilities.  One explanation is that chlorogenic acid reduces blood glucose levels by inhibiting the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase and by blocking glucose absorption in the small intestines. Less glucose leads to the release of fat for energy usage. Another explanation is that CGA prevents absorption of consumed fat, increasing the likeness that it becomes oxidized.

Science Says…… 

A meta-analysis (Read Here) revealed that while there have been several experiments that measured green coffee bean extract, only three explicitly studied its fat reduction properties under robust scientific stringency (i.e. double blind, randomized trails). All three provided evidence that chlorogenic acid derived from green coffee extract promotes modest fat loss (Interesting to note that the subjects did not exercise in any of the studies).  

There are a couple of concerns, besides small experimental size. The longest study was 12 weeks so the long-term benefits of CGA are unknown. The studies only utilized obese subjects and as result it is unclear if the compound promotes fat loss for people who are not obese. Finally, two of the three papers were sponsored by supplement companies. While this does not negate the experiments, one must be a bit more skeptical of their findings.  

Anything Else 

Several preliminary studies suggest that chlorogenic acid can support the cardiovascular system. One paper (Read Here) indicated that the compound can reduce blood pressure for those suffering from hypertension.  Another (Read Here) showed that the CGA improves blood flow.

As mentioned earlier, green coffee beans and roasted coffee beans are essentially the same. Therefore if you have any negative reactions to coffee and/or coffee products, you should be cautious around green coffee bean extract.

Chlorogenic acid can also be found in prunes, eggplants, and peaches. However the majority of CGA supplements are derived from green coffee beans.

Our Recommendation 

With such a small number of trials, we (at the moment) cannot suggest green coffee bean extract as a primary fat burner. We would like see more trials that explore chlorogenic acid such as its effects on non-obese individuals, its interaction with physical activity, and the consequences of long-term dosage.    

Dosage and Supplements 

Daily:  Dependent on the percentage of CGA in a supplement (Examine.com)

•  1,200-3,000mg for a 10% chlorogenic acid supplement
•  600-1,500mg for a 20% chlorogenic acid supplement 
• 240-600mg for a 50% chlorogenic acid supplement 

Is the primary ingredient in this supplement(s): 

• Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen