Comparative analysis of anti-obesity effects of green, fermented, and γ-aminobutyric acid teas in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model

Abstract

Obesity, a prevalent disease associated with numerous chronic conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, remains a major global health challenge. This study investigated the potential of green tea (GT), fermented tea (FT), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) tea (GBT), which are rich in phytonutrients and polyphenols, for the management of obesity. Using a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model (C57BL/6N), we explored the effect of these teas on various obesity-related parameters. The mice were categorized into five groups: normal diet with water, high-fat diet with water, and high-fat diet supplemented with GT, FT, or GBT. Over 13 weeks, we monitored body weight, perirenal and liver fat, adipocyte lipid accumulation, and key metabolic indicators, such as serum cholesterol, leptin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose. These teas contain beneficial phytochemicals such as GABA, theanine, and caffeine, and have demonstrated an enhanced antioxidant capacity, which increases the scavenging of free radicals and may reduce oxidative stress. The animal study indicated a decrease in feeding efficiency and significant reductions in body weight liver fat, epididymal fat, and perirenal fat, as well as in adipocyte lipid accumulation. Additionally, notable improvements were observed in metabolic health indicators, including reductions in serum cholesterol, leptin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose levels. Our findings revealed that GT, FT, or GBT significantly counteracted the negative effects of a high-fat diet, suggesting their potential in combating obesity and related metabolic disorders.