Oolong Tea Reduces Food Intake, Body Weight, and Body Fat in Spontaneously Obese Rats

Abstract

Oolong tea contains flavanol monomers, dimers and oligomers. These compounds may increase fat oxidation and metabolism. Traditionally, Chinese medicine has used oolong tea for weight control. Effects of an oolong tea extract were tested in spontaneously obese rats derived from Zucker lean rats (Fa/Fa). Obesity in these rats is not due to a leptin receptor defect. Four groups of ten wk old rats (6/group) were fed a rodent chow diet ad libitum supplemented with either 0%, 1%, 2% or 4% oolong tea extract (T). Body weight and food intake were measured weekly, and body composition, fat depot weights, and serum triglycerides were measured after 10 wks. Weight gain was lower in groups fed 2% and 4% T to those fed 0% and 1% (p<0.0001). Food intake was similar in groups consuming 0%, 1% and 2% tea extracts, and significantly lower in the 4% group (p<0.05). Body fat was lower in the 2% and 4% groups compared with the 0% and 1% groups. A similar trend noted for total fat depot weights (mesenteric + gonadal + retroperiteneal + ingunial) (p<0.05). Serum triglyceridss were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the 2 and 4% T groups, compared to no changes in the 0% and 1% T groups. Two percent and 4% of the standard diet reduced body weight gain, body fat percentage, fat depot mass and serum triglycerides in spontaneously obese rats. Oolong tea may be useful as part of a weight loss and maintenance regimen. (Funded, in part, by gifts from WING Inc, Inje-FIRST, and Inje-BK21)