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Botanical

EGCG

EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is the most abundant catechin in green tea and belongs to the polyphenols, a large group of plant compounds.

LongevityCardiovascularOrgan FunctionWeight ManagementCognition

How much does LDL cholesterol change?

A review of 17 randomized trials involving 1,356 people found an average LDL cholesterol reduction of about 9.3 mg/dL. Trials lasted four to 14 weeks and used 107 to 856 mg of EGCG daily. These are research exposures, not recommended doses; the upper end overlaps the liver-risk range identified by EFSA. 1 2

Cholesterol balanceToo little evidence

Short-term LDL changes are documented, but they do not establish prevention of heart disease or the best safe regimen. 1

What about weight loss?

A 12-week trial in 102 women with central obesity tested green tea extract supplying 856.8 mg EGCG daily. Weight in the treatment group fell from 76.8 to 75.7 kg. The abstract reports this as a change within that group, so the figure should not be read as the advantage over placebo. 3

NCCIH describes any weight effect of green-tea catechins and caffeine as modest and dependent on product composition and physical activity. That evidence does not isolate EGCG as the sole active ingredient. 4

Weight lossToo little evidence

A modest signal exists for some green tea preparations; it does not justify copying a high-dose trial regimen. 2 3 4

Other questions

This profile does not evaluate EGCG for brain fog, inflammatory disease or liver treatment.

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.

Organ Function1 effect

Liver healthOrgan FunctionModerateBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Weight Management2 effects

Weight lossWeight ManagementSmallBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · high confidenceEvidence record

MetabolismWeight ManagementSmallBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · high confidenceEvidence record

Cognition1 effect

Brain FogCognitionSmallCNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Other effects1 effect

InflammationModerateA3 studies
Epigallocatechin-Gallate: Unraveling Its Protective Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.2025Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea.2016Potential benefits of green tea polyphenol EGCG in the prevention and treatment of vascular inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.2013

Rated by SuppCo · high confidenceEvidence record

All studies

8 publications are linked to EGCG, newest first.

Epigallocatechin-Gallate: Unraveling Its Protective Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.2025Green Tea and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) for the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (NAFLD): Insights into the Role of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Mechanism2021Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea.2016Systematic review of green tea epigallocatechin gallate in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of humans2016Therapeutic effect of high-dose green tea extract on weight reduction: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.2016Potential benefits of green tea polyphenol EGCG in the prevention and treatment of vascular inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.2013Weight control and prevention of metabolic syndrome by green tea.2011Green tea polyphenols as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for cardiovascular protection.2007

Sources