Atherosclerosis is one of the diseases related to metabolic syndrome which is caused by obesity. Previous reports have shown that green tea and its components have anti-obesity effect. We examined whether catechins and caffeine can prevent the development of atherosclerosis by oral administration, singly or in combination to the atherosclerosis model mice. Results demonstrated that the number of atherosclerotic regions in the aorta was significantly reduced by the combined treatment, and the atherosclerotic area was also improved. Serum HDL-C increased by caffeine single treatment, but no effect on the TG and TC by any treatments. Moreover, ECG illuviated to atheromatous lesions in aorta and the illuviation was enhanced by caffeine. The mRNA expression levels of LOX-1 and TNF-α showed a tendency to suppress by the combined treatment. These results indicated that the combined administration of catechins and caffeine has the inhibitory effect on the development of atherosclerosis in mice.

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To elucidate effects of catechins and caffeine on lipid metabolism in adipocytes and identify the mechanism of action, differentiated 3T3‐L1 adipocytes were incubated in culture media containing catechins at 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 µg/mL and caffeine at 50 and 100 µg/mL, singly or in combination, for 8 days. Intracellular lipid accumulation and glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase activity were strongly suppressed by catechins and caffeine combination treatment. The mRNA expression of PPARɤ, GLUT4, HSL, UCP‐1, and TMEM26 were significantly increased in the combined groups. These findings suggest that the combined treatment inhibited lipid synthesis and improved lipid metabolism in adipocytes. Moreover, it was indicated that the differentiated 3T3‐L1 adipocytes could be transformed from white adipocytes to beige‐like adipocytes by catechins and caffeine, and accordingly that this transformation could promote calorigenic action.Practical ApplicationIn this study, we revealed that the combined treatment of catechins and caffeine inhibited lipid synthesis and improved lipid metabolism in adipocytes. Moreover, the treatment may contribute to the transforming from white adipocytes to beige‐like adipocytes, which could strongly promote calorigenic action.

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