Green Coffee Bean Extract as a Fat Burner: What Do Studies Show?

Green coffee bean extract has high levels of chlorogenic acid, which has helped the supplement gain the reputation of being effective in weight loss.

Studies, however, have had mixed findings.

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The popularity of green coffee extract for weight loss started with a segment in 2012 on “The Dr. Oz Show,” which claimed green coffee bean extract could be an effective weight loss tool. Green coffee beans are simply coffee beans that have not yet been roasted.

Some research that showed the product was effective for weight loss in human subjects has since been retracted due to questions about the reliability of the data. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued one marketer and the manufacturer of a popular form of green coffee bean extract for falsely claiming scientific backing on their claims that the supplement could make people lose weight.

However, green coffee bean extract and the supplement’s most active ingredient — chlorogenic acid — has become the subject of many scientific studies, and seems to be increasingly linked to a variety of good health outcomes, including potential fat-burning and metabolic advantages. Many foods also provide chlorogenic acid, like blueberries, tea, and sunflower seeds, and coffee in its green or raw form is very high in the chemical.

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Most studies looking at the effects of chlorogenic acid have been completed on animals. However, studies have shown that humans absorb and can use the chlorogenic acid from green coffee bean extract.

A 2006 study by BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that the extract inhibited fat absorption and metabolism in the liver in mice.

At least a moderate effect on weight loss was reported in a 2011 study published in the journal of Gastroenterology Research and Practice. This study looked at current research and found that the effect wasn’t strong and there was some reason to question the methods of the researchers.

A 2014 study published by Pharmaceutical Research didn't necessarily prove green coffee bean extract's effect on weight loss, but it did show the supplement might help block the development of obesity.

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