Green Coffee Beans May Trigger Weight Loss

A new study has shown that ground green coffee beans, if consumed daily, may promote weight loss. In this small study, 16 participants who were overweight lost an average of 17 pounds. The participants had different doses of green coffee beans in the form of a supplement during one part of the study, while during the other part they were given a placebo.

The participants did not have any changes in their diet or physical activity. The results show that they lost more pounds when they were having green coffee beans, especially when they had the higher dose. According to Joe Vinson, PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton, this reduction in weight is not due to the presence of caffeine in it. The results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. The results were similar to that of the other studies conducted earlier, but the dose of coffee beans used in this study was more than the others.

Connie Diekman, RD, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, warns that the results should be taken with caution as it was a small study and more studies are required to confirm the findings. Two different doses of coffee beans — 700 mg dose and 1,050 mg — and a placebo were used in the 22-week study. The participants had the different doses in cycles with a wash out period in between during which no supplements were given. A separate control group was not used in the study.

An average of 400 calories were burnt through physical activity by the participants. Some of the participants lost up to 26 pounds but the average loss of weight was 17 pounds. Overall, the body weight decreased by an average of 10.5 pounds, while body fat declined by 16%. The loss of weight was slightly more when the participants had the higher dose of green beans, when compared to the lower dose. The loss of weight was not significant when the participants taking the placebo.

But Vinson is not sure how coffee beans can bring about a reduction in body weight. He feels that the presence of chlorogenic acid in the unroasted beans may be one of the reasons for the loss. “Chlorogenic acid, a plant compound, may affect absorption of glucose, thus aiding in weight reduction," says Vinson. Cholorogenic acid breaks down when coffee beans are roasted.

No side effects were reported from the use of green beans. The capsules, which were very bitter, were taken with plenty of water before a meal. Researchers are planning a larger study with 60 participants.