EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate)
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is a dietary supplement with 12 published peer-reviewed studies involving 6,800 participants, researched for Cancer Prevention, Cardiovascular Health, Weight Management & Metabolic Health and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Cancer Prevention
ModerateCardiovascular Health
StrongWeight Management & Metabolic Health
ModerateNeuroprotection & Other Effects
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Cancer Prevention
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on prostate cancer biomarkers in men with high-grade PIN.
Study Type
Randomised placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on prostate cancer biomarkers in men with high-grade PIN.
Dose
600 mg EGCG daily
Participants
60 men with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN)
Duration
12 months
Results
Prostate cancer diagnosis in only 3% of EGCG group vs 30% in placebo; significant reductions in PSA, VEGF, and HGF.
How They Measured It
PSA kinetics, biopsy grade, serum VEGF, HGF, IGF
To investigate green tea catechin intake and prostate cancer incidence.
Study Type
Prospective cohort
Purpose
To investigate green tea catechin intake and prostate cancer incidence.
Dose
Dietary catechin intake (observational)
Participants
49,920 Japanese men
Duration
13 years follow-up
Results
High green tea (EGCG) consumption associated with 48% lower risk of advanced prostate cancer; dose-response relationship observed.
How They Measured It
FFQ; serum catechin levels; prostate cancer from registry
To pool evidence on EGCG/green tea intake and breast cancer risk.
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To pool evidence on EGCG/green tea intake and breast cancer risk.
Dose
Dietary green tea intake
Participants
Multiple studies (>100,000 subjects combined)
Duration
Review
Results
High green tea consumption associated with 22% reduced breast cancer risk; subgroup analysis showed stronger protection for hormone receptor negative cancers.
How They Measured It
Meta-analysis of prospective cohorts and case-controls
Cardiovascular Health
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk markers.
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk markers.
Dose
400 mg EGCG daily
Participants
88 adults with central obesity
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Significant improvement in FMD (+2.5%), reduction in systolic BP (-4 mmHg), and decrease in LDL-C (-8%) and CRP (-20%) vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), blood pressure, LDL-C, CRP
To systematically evaluate EGCG/green tea catechin supplementation on lipid profiles.
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To systematically evaluate EGCG/green tea catechin supplementation on lipid profiles.
Dose
Various EGCG doses across trials
Participants
Multiple RCTs pooled
Duration
Review
Results
EGCG supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (mean -0.15 mmol/L) and LDL-C (mean -0.11 mmol/L); HDL-C unchanged.
How They Measured It
Pooled TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG outcomes from RCTs
To assess EGCG's anti-atherosclerotic effect on coronary artery disease progression.
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
To assess EGCG's anti-atherosclerotic effect on coronary artery disease progression.
Dose
600 mg EGCG daily
Participants
60 patients with stable coronary artery disease
Duration
12 months
Results
EGCG significantly reduced CIMT progression rate and lowered oxLDL by 23%; endothelial dysfunction markers improved.
How They Measured It
Coronary CIMT by ultrasound, serum oxLDL, endothelial function
Weight Management & Metabolic Health
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on body weight and fat mass in overweight adults.
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
To evaluate EGCG supplementation on body weight and fat mass in overweight adults.
Dose
400 mg EGCG daily
Participants
104 overweight adults
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Significant reductions in body weight (-1.3 kg), fat mass (-1.1 kg), and waist circumference (-2.1 cm) vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Body composition by DXA, metabolic rate, respiratory exchange ratio
To pool evidence from RCTs on green tea catechins for weight loss.
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To pool evidence from RCTs on green tea catechins for weight loss.
Dose
Varied catechin doses (typically 300-800 mg/day)
Participants
Multiple RCTs pooled (~1500 participants)
Duration
Review
Results
Green tea catechins (primarily EGCG) produced significant weight loss of 1.38 kg (95% CI 0.42-2.33 kg) over 12 weeks; fat oxidation mechanism implicated.
How They Measured It
Pooled body weight and fat outcomes
Neuroprotection & Other Effects
To investigate green tea consumption and cognitive decline in elderly Japanese adults.
Study Type
Prospective cohort
Purpose
To investigate green tea consumption and cognitive decline in elderly Japanese adults.
Dose
Self-reported tea consumption frequency
Participants
1003 adults aged 70+ in Tsurugaya cohort
Duration
Cross-sectional with longitudinal follow-up
Results
Higher green tea consumption (>=5 cups/day) associated with 38% lower prevalence of cognitive impairment vs <1 cup/day.
How They Measured It
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hasegawa Dementia Scale
To characterise EGCG's inhibition of amyloid-beta aggregation and promotion of non-toxic amyloid remodelling.
Study Type
In vitro mechanistic study
Purpose
To characterise EGCG's inhibition of amyloid-beta aggregation and promotion of non-toxic amyloid remodelling.
Dose
0.1-10 µM EGCG
Participants
Synthetic Abeta peptide and neurotoxicity assay
Duration
Varied time points
Results
EGCG directly bound and remodelled amyloid-beta fibrils into non-toxic off-pathway aggregates; IC50 for fibril inhibition ~0.5 µM.
How They Measured It
ThT fluorescence, AFM, cell toxicity protection assay
To evaluate EGCG on insulin resistance and hepatic fat in NAFLD patients.
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
To evaluate EGCG on insulin resistance and hepatic fat in NAFLD patients.
Dose
300 mg EGCG twice daily
Participants
80 adults with NAFLD
Duration
16 weeks
Results
Significant reductions in hepatic fat content (-8%), HOMA-IR (-18%), and ALT (-22%) vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Liver fat by MRI-PDFF, HOMA-IR, liver enzymes
To comprehensively review EGCG's clinical applications across disease states.
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To comprehensively review EGCG's clinical applications across disease states.
Dose
Various doses
Participants
Multiple studies reviewed
Duration
Review
Results
EGCG has clinical trial evidence supporting cancer prevention, CVD risk reduction, weight management, and metabolic health; safety well established at doses <800 mg/day.
How They Measured It
Systematic literature synthesis
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) research
There are currently 12 peer-reviewed studies on EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate), involving 6,800 total participants. Research covers Cancer prevention, Cardiovascular health, Weight management and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (12 human studies), and reported outcomes.
EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) has been researched for: Cancer prevention, Cardiovascular health, Weight management, Neuroprotection. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 12 out of 12 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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