Green coffee beans may lead to weight loss, study shows

A worker inspects unroasted coffee beans on August 8, 2009 near Carmo de Minas, Brazil.

/ David Silverman/Getty Images

(CBS News) - Could  the secret to weight loss be found in coffee? According to a new study, people who took a daily dose of green coffee - which is unroasted coffee beans - lost about 10 percent of their body weight.

The study, which gave participants a supplement containing green coffee extract, was presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) in San Diego and published earlier this year in Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity.

PICTURES: Coffee and your health

The new study involved 16 overweight people (with Body Mass Indexes between 25 to 30) between the ages of 22 to 46 years old. They were monitored for 22 weeks, in which they were given a low dose 700 mg green coffee extract tablet, a high dose 1,050 mg extract tablet and a placebo. Because they were given all the different doses and the inactive placebo, the participants acted as their own control group.

Participants were told to take three green coffee capsules each day, 30 minutes before each meal with lots of water, due to the pill's bitterness. Roasting coffee makes beans less bitter, according to the researchers. The pill contained caffeine, but it amounted to about half a cup of coffee a day.

All the participants were monitored for their overall diet and exercise. Throughout the study, participants ate on average 2,400 calories a day and had a calorie expenditure of 400 calories, nowhere near the levels required for weight loss.

What effects did green coffee have?

After the study, participants lost an average of 17 pounds, which broke down to a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat. Lead researcher Dr. Joe Vinson, a professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton in Pa., said in an emailed press release that the weight loss may have been more, but since the subjects received a lower dose and placebo at some point in the study it may have lessened the overall effect.  The study was funded by Applied Food Sciences, which makes green coffee supplements.

Vinson told HealthPop that the most exciting fact about this study was that the green coffee extract GCA did not have any side effects. Unlike other weight loss pills that have been pulled off the market by the FDA over health concerns or cause unpleasurable side effects like gastrointestinal problems, green coffee had no related problems, he said. "I've been taking some myself to see if caused any problems," Vinson told HealthPop. "It's okay."

The study also reported a two beats-per-minute reduction in heart rate among participants. Vinson told HealthPop while he doesn't recommend people who have high blood pressure forgo prescribed medicine for green coffee, it may help.

Previous studies have also shown green coffees effect on weight loss. A 2006 Italian study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine using mice showed the green coffee bean extract may work against weight gain and fat accumulation by stopping fat absorption and activating of fat metabolism in the liver.

What explains the mysterious effect? Vinson believes that a substance called chlorogenic acid that goes away when coffee beans are roasted may be the reason for the weight loss. Unfortunately, that means your daily cup of coffee won't give you the same effect.

Dr. Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas cautioned to HealthDay that people should not draw conclusions from the research.

"First of all, you need more than 16 people to have any statistical significance attached to these findings and we really have no idea how this might be working," Sandon said.

She also warned about the dangers of supplements in general, which are not regulated the same way as drugs when it comes to safety testing.

Said Sandon, "While people might have this perception that it's all natural since it's coming from a coffee bean, with supplements in general it's still a buyer-beware market."

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Coffee and your health: Latest findings

[TinCity]

I use Naturewise green coffee bean extract that i bought from Amazon about 2 months ago and I was just going to see how it works, but I actually lost 37 pounds so far. I'm so excited that I am going to share my Amazon discount promo code with anyone: http://*******/XVvUO0 I'm talking about more than 50% off. This product really works. OMG.

[TinCity]

You can also get a great deal on different types of green coffee bean extracts at http://topdiscountfinder.com/?s=green+coffee+bean.

[skolmstead]

The Green Mountain Extract Beans may or may not be a good product; that remains to be seen. This company has made two $79.97 charges to my credit card without me signing up for them (hidden agreement) and without sending me any products!. I have tried to contact them to stop these charges and discontinue future automatic charges with no success. They provide no means of contacting them. This news media is one of many avenues I am perusing to get my requests accomplished.

[GBcbs]

Green Coffee Bean Extract certainly a wonderful product or the sales would not be as high as they currently are. Green Coffee Bean Extract may not be the "silver bullet" for losing weight that many believe they want or need in the "battle of the bulge". I believe weight loos results while using the product is a key motivational aspect. It will put the path weight loss in focus the many that do want to lose weight fast.

[Pammy1978]

Yes green coffee does help you lose weight! I've already lost almost 20 lbs and I love it! I like Dr. Oz's guidelines for green coffee. Mainly, make sure it contains Svetol or GCA and at least 45% cholorgenic acid. There are a lot of green coffee frauds out there that don't really work! If you want one that does work you can try http://*******.com/greencoffee

[Pammy1978]

Sorry that site is *******.com\greencoffee (stupid asterisks!)

[skeptical_reader]

Why would a reputable news outlet even report on a study that doesn't establish statistically significant results? I'm disappointed in CBS. They've just played right into the marketing strategy of the green coffee supplement manufacturers.

[craftaj69]

dose this actually work? i want to try it but i really want to know if it works at all ???

[jtbaxt]

I lost weight with this - it stops sugar converting to fats -search for Zenulife Green Coffee Bean Extract

http://zenulife.com

[RussCaseySmith]

Pure Green Coffee Bean VEGETARIAN Capsules
The ONLY 100% Pure Product Available!
400 mg Capsules - 30 Count
SPECIAL PRICE $12.99 - Regular Price $14.99
http://stores.purehealth100.com/StoreFront.bok

[brenda1385]

i would like to know if any of you know where i can purchase these green coffee capsules.thank you

[deepintheheart]

I purchase them at Whole Foods, brand is Genesis Today

[craftaj69]

hi, i was wondering if you tried it and if it worked?

[daca1]

It know that green coffee has many benefits on overall health. I just don't like the fact that consumption is not completely natural, but you have to buy these coffee capsules.