Chlorogenic Acid

Chlorogenic Acid: What is it?

• Chlorogenic acid is a polyphenol compound that is sourced from coffee beans as well as various fruits and vegetables.

How does it work in the body?

• A 2017 systematic review showed that chlorogenic acids counteract oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals, acting as a metal chelator, reducing lipid peroxidation, and inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity.

• It also inhibits alpha glucosidase which limits digestive uptake of carbohydrates.

• This leads to a combination of antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

What is it used for?

• Chlorogenic acids are mainly used for weight loss and to lower blood pressure, but studies have shown that it may also be beneficial as an anti-bacterial agent, as a blood sugar-lowering agent, and to improve mood.

• Evidence for and against:A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that chlorogenic acid supplementation led to statistically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure although they mention that further studies should be conducted.

• Of the five studies included, no adverse events were reported following chlorogenic acid intake.

• A 2017 article found that chlorogenic acid may have a role in the treatment of metabolic syndrome through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antilipidemic properties.

• They suggest that this supplement may also have anti-microbial properties, making it a useful nutritional supplement .

  
  

Dosage:

• There is no official dose of CGA supplementation, but user dosing typically ranges anywhere from 240 to 3000 mg/day.

Precautions/side effects:

• Individuals with green coffee bean extract allergies may have an adverse reaction to this supplement in the form of an asthmatic response, studies suggest that this is likely due to the surrounding compounds in the coffee beans rather than chlorogenic acid itself.

Interactions:

• Chlorogenic acids may elicit adverse interactions with antihypertensives since it has blood pressure lowering effects as well.

• Chlorogenic acids may also be shown to enhance the effects of metformin in lowering blood sugar.

• This can cause episodes of hypotension and hypoglycemia, respectively, so precautions should be taken.

Key Web Sources

• Tajik N, Tajik M, Mack I, et al. The potential effects of chlorogenic acid, the main pheno-

  lic components in coffee, on health: a comprehensive review of the literature. Eur J Nutr.

  2017;56:2215–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1379-1.

• Tunnicliffe JM, Eller LK, Reimer RA, Hittel DS, Shearer J. Chlorogenic acid differentially

  affects postprandial glucose and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide response in

  rats. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36(5):650–9. https://doi.org/10.1139/h11-072. Epub

  2011 Oct 6.

• Onakpoya IJ, Spencer EA, Thompson MJ, Heneghan CJ. The effect of chlorogenic acid on

  blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Hum

  Hypertens. 2015;29(2):77–81. https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2014.46. Epub 2014 Jun 19.

• Santana-Gálvez J, Cisneros-Zevallos L, Jacobo-Velázquez DA. Chlorogenic acid: recent

  advances on its dual role as a food additive and a nutraceutical against metabolic syndrome.

  Molecules. 2017;22(3):358. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22030358.

• Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Skurić Z, Butković D. Bronchial reactivity in green coffee exposure.

  Br J Ind Med. 1985;42(6):415–20. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.42.6.415.

• Prabhakar PK, Doble M. Interaction of phytochemicals with hypoglycemic drugs on glucose

  uptake in L6 myotubes. Phytomedicine. 2011;18(4):285–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phy-

  med.2010.06.016. Epub 2010 Aug 19.