Effects of Chinese green tea on weight, and hormonal and biochemical profiles in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome--a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To study the effects of green tea on body weight, and biochemical and hormonal profiles in obese Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: Thirty-four obese Chinese women with PCOS were randomized into either treatment with green tea capsules or placebo for 3 months. The anthropometric measurements, and biochemical and hormonal profiles before and after treatment in each group were compared.

Results: The body weight of the green tea group decreased by a nonsignificant 2.4% after treatment; whereas the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat content of the control group were significantly higher after 3 months. There were no differences in any of the hormone levels measured in either group. The biochemical profiles of the two groups were also similar except that there was a small but significant rise in the triglyceride level in the green tea group. Fewer patients in the green tea group remained amenorrhoeic, but this was not significantly different from the control group.

Conclusions: Green tea supplementation did not significantly reduce body weight in obese women with PCOS, nor did it alter the glucose or lipid metabolism.