Abstract
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol green tea catechin with potential health benefits and therapeutic effects in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common liver disorder that adversely affects liver function and lipid metabolism. This systematic review surveyed the effects of EGCG or green tea extract (GTE) on NAFLD reported in studies involving rodent models or humans with a focus on clinicopathologic outcomes, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and inflammatory, oxidative stress, and liver injury markers. Articles involving clinical efficacy of EGCG/GTE on human subjects and rodent models were gathered by searching the PUBMED database and by referencing additional articles identified from other literature reviews. EGCG or GTE supplementation reduced body weight, adipose tissue deposits, and food intake. Mechanistically, the majority of these studies confirmed that EGCG or GTE supplementation plays a significant role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism and expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis. Importantly, EGCG and GTE supplementation were shown to have beneficial effects on oxidative stress-related pathways that activate pro-inflammatory responses, leading to liver damage. In conclusion, green tea catechins are a potentially useful treatment option for NAFLD. More research is required to determine the ideal dosage, treatment duration, and most effective delivery method of EGCG or GTE, and to provide more definitive conclusions by performing large, randomized clinical trials.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic hepatic disorder characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in the liver, which is not secondary to alcohol consumption
Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-hyperlipidemic salubrious properties have been observed across both rodent and human studies using EGCG/green tea extract (GTE)
Treatment for at least 12 weeks and using a daily EGCG or GTE dosage of 300–600 mg appears to be most beneficial in humans to observe substantial improvements in lipid profiles, oxidative status, and liver injury markers (Table 2)
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic hepatic disorder characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in the liver, which is not secondary to alcohol consumption. In earlier reviews of GTEs’ effects on NAFLD, Hodges et al focused on articulating the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of GTE through regulating the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) [7], focusing on human studies. Mahmoodi et al examined the effects of GTE on liver enzymes from previous randomized clinical trials in NAFLD [8]. This manuscript extends beyond earlier reviews by providing a systematic review of the effects of EGCG and GTE observed in NAFLD in rodent and human studies, and by tabulating the effects of EGCG on clinicopathologic phenotypes, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, and liver enzymes, in a user-friendly format
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