Green tea extract (EGCG)
Catechins such as EGCG plus caffeine are proposed to modestly increase thermogenesis and fat oxidation.
Also known as epigallocatechin gallate, Camellia sinensis.
What to know
Limited weight benefit, with liver concerns for concentrated extracts.
Editorial summary reviewed . Literature and label checks below have separate dates.
What the evidence says
NIH ODS concludes any weight-loss effect is small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Caffeine content varies across studies.
Marketed as: Marketed as a metabolism-boosting fat burner. A proposed mechanism or a finding about an ingredient does not establish benefit for every finished product.
What to watch for
Concentrated extracts have been associated with liver injury. An extract is not equivalent to brewed tea.
Literature search counts
Counts · Oct 3, 2026 UTC- RCT-tagged publications
- 372 (RCT-tagged publications)
- Systematic-review publications
- 392 (Systematic-review publications)
- All search matches
- 24,437 (All search matches)
These are search matches, not a count of independent trials or proof of benefit. Publication types overlap. Results may include animal research, articles mentioning several ingredients, or retracted work. Counts do not assess study quality and may change after retrieval.
NIH product-label records
A sample of NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database records. Listing is not FDA approval, proof of effectiveness or confirmation a product is still sold.
- Green Tea Extract21st CenturyCapsule
- Green Tea ExtractMyTritionCapsule
- Green Tea ExtractCountry LifeTablet or Pill
What it actually is
For chemical identity, see the record for epigallocatechin gallate in PubChem. A compound record does not describe every ingredient in a supplement or establish clinical benefit.
Source: PubChem (PUG-REST)
Green tea extract (EGCG): common questions
Does Green tea extract (EGCG) work for weight loss?
NIH ODS concludes any weight-loss effect is small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Caffeine content varies across studies. It is not a substitute for an FDA-approved GLP-1 medication.
Is Green tea extract (EGCG) a GLP-1 or "natural Ozempic"?
No. Green tea extract (EGCG) is a botanical supplement marketed as "natural GLP-1" support, but it is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is not FDA-approved to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes. It does not work the way semaglutide or tirzepatide do.
Is Green tea extract (EGCG) safe?
Concentrated extracts have been associated with liver injury. An extract is not equivalent to brewed tea. Dietary supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and quality the way approved drugs are, so talk with a licensed clinician before starting, especially alongside a prescription medication.