EGCG is a dietary supplement containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most beneficial and effective of the antioxidant catechins in green tea.
It is produced from a natural extract of green tea, a drink consumed for thousands of years, used for fighting oxidative stress and excess weight, key factors in the ageing process.
Our ECGC supplement therefore forms part of our Longevity product category.
What benefits are offered by the EGGC in green tea?
EGCG offers numerous benefits for health:
- potent antioxidant efficacy. Green tea’s natural antioxidant properties are largely due to its catechins. These polyphenols, of which EGCG is the most potent, are able to stabilise unpaired free radicals by donating an electron to them. In this way, they help protect cells and DNA and prevent premature ageing (1-2);
- a fat-burning effect. Green tea natural extracts containing EGCG are known to improve metabolism and thus aid weight loss. The catechins in green tea, including EGCG, help to burn fat and prevent its accumulation, as well as maintain normal blood sugar levels and a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index – a measure of body fat). EGCG is thought to work by, amongst others, preventing the breakdown of noradrenaline, which is essential for oxidising fats and converting them into energy (3-4);
- cardiovascular support. Regular consumption of tea is associated with improved cardiac health: EGCG and other catechins help to both maintain blood vessel elasticity through their antioxidant action and positively affect the ratio between ‘bad’ LDL and ‘good’ HDL cholesterol (5-6);
- neuroprotective properties. EGCG crosses the blood-brain barrier easily, helping to protect the brain against oxidative stress, a key cause of neuronal degeneration. Some studies suggest that EGCG also promotes good neuronal health by fighting neuroinflammation, reducing amyloid plaque formation and promoting neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons). Green tea catechins are also associated with supporting memory, which is compromised by ageing (7-8);
- aids digestion. EGCG and other catechins in green tea help to maintain a healthy gut flora and improve digestion as a result of their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (9-10).
What are the three main strengths of the epigallocatechin gallate supplement EGCG?
EGCG stands out from rival products on the market in three main respects:
- its high content of active ingredients and efficacy. This EGCG supplement, produced from an extract of Camellia sinensis green tea standardised to 70% EGCG, provides at least 455mg of EGCG a day based on a daily dose of 2 capsules. In contrast, a cup of green tea contains just 60mg of EGCG on average, hence the benefits of taking a quality supplement to substantially increase your daily intake. The product’s particularly high content of epigallocatechin significantly increases its efficacy;
- its safe dose. This dose is nonetheless perfectly safe. It’s important not to exceed 800mg of EGCG a day as it could, amongst others, increase blood levels of transaminases, an indicator of liver damage;
- its natural source. EGCG is not a synthetic supplement but is produced from a real green tea extract standardised in EGCG.
Daily dose: 2 capsules
Number of doses per pack: 30 |
Amount per dose |
EGCG
(from an extract of Camellia sinensis green tea standardised to 70% EGCG) |
455 mg
|
Other ingredients: acacia gum.
|
Recommended amount: take 2 vegetarian capsules a day with food. Each capsule contains 227mg of EGCG.
Duration: 30 days.
Storage: store away from heat, light and humidity.
Precautions: For adults. Do not take on an empty stomach. As ingesting more than 800mg EGCG a day is not recommended, avoid consuming other green tea products on the same day. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. This product is a nutritional supplement which should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. Keep out of young children’s reach. Store away from light, heat and humidity. As with all nutritional supplements, consult a healthcare professional before taking if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a health condition
- Mokra D, Joskova M, Mokry J. Therapeutic Effects of Green Tea Polyphenol (‒)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) in Relation to Molecular Pathways Controlling Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 25;24(1):340. doi: 10.3390/ijms24010340. PMID: 36613784; PMCID: PMC9820274.
- Du GJ, Zhang Z, Wen XD, Yu C, Calway T, Yuan CS, Wang CZ. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) is the most effective cancer chemopreventive polyphenol in green tea. Nutrients. 2012 Nov 8;4(11):1679-91. doi: 10.3390/nu4111679. PMID: 23201840; PMCID: PMC3509513.
- Li F, Gao C, Yan P, Zhang M, Wang Y, Hu Y, Wu X, Wang X, Sheng J. EGCG Reduces Obesity and White Adipose Tissue Gain Partly Through AMPK Activation in Mice. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Nov 22;9:1366. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01366. PMID: 30524290; PMCID: PMC6262053.
- Vázquez Cisneros LC, López-Uriarte P, López-Espinoza A, Navarro Meza M, Espinoza-Gallardo AC, Guzmán Aburto MB. Efectos del té verde y su contenido de galato de epigalocatequina (EGCG) sobre el peso corporal y la masa grasa en humanos. Una revisión sistemática [Effects of green tea and its epigallocatechin (EGCG) content on body weight and fat mass in humans: a systematic review]. Nutr Hosp. 2017 Jun 5;34(3):731-737. Spanish. doi: 10.20960/nh.753. PMID: 28627214.
- Eng QY, Thanikachalam PV, Ramamurthy S. Molecular understanding of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jan 10;210:296-310. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.035. Epub 2017 Aug 31. PMID: 28864169.
- Li Y, Karim MR, Wang B, Peng J. Effects of Green Tea (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on Cardiac Function - A Review of the Therapeutic Mechanism and Potentials. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2022;22(18):2371-2382. doi: 10.2174/1389557522666220328161826. PMID: 35345998.
- Payne A, Nahashon S, Taka E, Adinew GM, Soliman KFA. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG): New Therapeutic Perspectives for Neuroprotection, Aging, and Neuroinflammation for the Modern Age. Biomolecules. 2022 Feb 25;12(3):371. doi: 10.3390/biom12030371. PMID: 35327563; PMCID: PMC8945730.
- Singh NA, Mandal AK, Khan ZA. Potential neuroprotective properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Nutr J. 2016 Jun 7;15(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0179-4. PMID: 27268025; PMCID: PMC4897892.
- Liu X, Zhao K, Jing N, Kong Q, Yang X. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Promotes the Immune Function of Ileum in High Fat Diet Fed Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiome Profiling and Immunoglobulin Production. Front Nutr. 2021 Sep 20;8:720439. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.720439. PMID: 34616764; PMCID: PMC8488439.
- Wu Z, Shen J, Xu Q, Xiang Q, Chen Y, Lv L, Zheng B, Wang Q, Wang S, Li L. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Improves Intestinal Gut Microbiota Homeostasis and Ameliorates Clostridioides difficile Infection. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 11;14(18):3756. doi: 10.3390/nu14183756. PMID: 36145133; PMCID: PMC9504111.