Effect of Tea Catechins on Energy Metabolism in Rats.

Abstract

Examination was made of the effects of tea catechins on energy metabolism in 8-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats subsequent to 4 or 18 hr food depletion. Energy expenditure within 4 hr after a single dose of tea catechins at 100 mg/kg weight both increased significantly compared with saline administration. At 18-hr food depletion, energy expenditure by fat oxidation significantly exceeded that in the tea catechins group. A single dose of tea catechins is thus clearly shown to induce thermic response in the rats.