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Botanical

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract concentrates constituents of Camellia sinensis leaves, mainly catechins and, unless decaffeinated, caffeine.

Also listed as Camellia Sinensis, GTE, Green Tea Catechins, Green Tea Leaf Extract

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The main safety issue is the liver

EFSA found increased liver enzymes at supplemental EGCG intakes of 800 mg daily or more and could not establish a safe dose below that level. The EU ceiling therefore should not be read as a guarantee of safety. 1 2

What if liver injury is suspected?

LiverTox describes rare cases of acute liver injury, sometimes severe, generally developing within one to six months. Suspected injury, including jaundice, calls for stopping the extract and medical assessment. Re-exposure has caused recurrence, so restarting after a suspected reaction is unsafe. 3

Which EU warnings belong on the label?

Relevant EGCG-containing extracts must warn against use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, by anyone under 18, on an empty stomach, or alongside other green tea products on the same day. These restrictions concern concentrated extracts covered by the regulation, rather than ordinary traditional tea infusions. 2

Medicines and everyday side effects

NCCIH lists nausea, constipation and abdominal discomfort among extract side effects. Green tea or its extracts can also reduce exposure to medicines including nadolol and atorvastatin, and an interaction has been reported with raloxifene. A medication review matters before adding a concentrated product. 4

For information, not individual medical advice. Ingredient studies do not establish the effectiveness of these products.

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