Effect of green mate in overweight volunteers: A randomized placebo-controlled human study

Overweight and obesity have become a global epidemic and they may impair health. Traditional use and growing evidence indicate that mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) may be helpful in losing excessive weight and fat. The present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated efficacy and safety of an extract from green mate in 60 overweight subjects aged 20–39 years during 6-weeks. Body composition was measured by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at baseline and after 6 weeks. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and various safety parameters were monitored. After 6 weeks, subjects taking mate experienced a significantly greater reduction of percent of body fat (?0.3% vs. +0.6%, p = 0.04) and fat mass (?0.5 kg vs. +0.2 kg, p = 0.04) than placebo. No significant differences were observed in other measurements. No adverse events occurred and all safety parameters were within normal ranges during the study in both groups. Thus, taking green mate extract reduced body fat after 6 weeks, while the treatment was safe and well tolerated.