Metabolic syndrome is a condition where the regular metabolic and biochemical functions of the body are adversely affected. It is often called insulin resistance syndrome, as the body stops responding optimally to insulin—a hormone that helps to metabolize glucose and convert it into energy. When cells develop insulin resistance, this process is either incomplete or does not happen at all. As a result, there is excess glucose in the body, often leading to diabetes.
Since metabolic syndrome causes the metabolism to slow down, people with the condition tend to gain weight. Obesity, a larger waistline, higher triglyceride levels, and lower HDL cholesterol along with high blood pressure are some of the effects of the condition. These increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Treating Metabolic Syndrome
Since metabolic syndrome can lead to life-threatening complications, it is best to treat it as soon as it is discovered. While there it has no ‘cure’ as such, doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes to reduce its impact.
These changes include increasing physical activity through exercise, a change in diet and weight loss.
Doctors also prescribe drugs to prevent the blood pressure from rising too high and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Unfortunately, these drugs have several side effects which is why doctors are continually looking for newer treatments.
Green Coffee Bean Extract and Its Effects
Coffee beans have two main components—caffeine and chlorogenic acid, which is a biologically active phenol (hydrocarbon). Chlorogenic acid has anti-diabetic properties, as it lowers insulin resistance and helps to control blood glucose levels. It also lowers blood pressure and has anti-obesity and anti-lipidemic properties. The risk of coronary heart disease and stroke is lower if one consumes green coffee bean extracts. Researchers have suggested that it could have a positive impact on metabolic syndrome.
Since chlorogenic acid is present in higher concentration in green coffee beans compared to roasted ones, researchers decided to study the impact of green coffee been extract on metabolism. The most recent study in the field was published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Scientists explored the effects of green coffee bean extract on patients with metabolic syndrome.
The Effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract on Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers decided to conduct a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. This means that the participants selected for the study were randomly assigned a group that would either receive the actual treatment or be given a placebo. They were not informed that there would be a placebo involved.
The participants comprised 43 overweight men and women between the ages 18 and 70. Doctors measured their weight, waistline, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. They also conducted blood tests which included a diabetes screening, lipid profile, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance.
The participants were divided into two groups—the intervention group and the placebo group. The participants in the intervention group were given capsules containing 400mg of green coffee extract (which had 186 mg of chlorogenic acid). Participants had to take these twice daily for a period of eight weeks.
Participants of both groups also followed an energy-based diet with no changes to their salt-intake or physical activity. At the end of the eight weeks, researchers once measured the metabolic parameters that they had measured prior to giving participants the treatment.
The participants of the intervention group had better overall health after taking green coffee bean extracts.
There was a reduction in their:
- Fasting blood glucose
- Systolic blood pressure
- Insulin resistance
- Waist circumference
- Appetite score
Researchers further observed that the reduction in weight and BMI of participants in the intervention group was twice as much as that of the placebo group.
The findings corroborate the fact that green coffee extracts have beneficial effects and can be used as a treatment to manage metabolic syndrome. In addition, it would be a safe and inexpensive treatment that could effectively reduce the health risks associated with metabolic syndrome.
Related: Coffee drinking associated with a multitude of health benefits