Özet:

Introduction: Catechins belong to the group of polyphenols found in the leaves of Camellia sinensis and are colorless, water-soluble compounds. Studies have shown that consumption of foods with antioxidant capacity can reduce the risk of several diseases. Objective: This article presents a narrative review of the metabolic aspects of catechins in the context of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Materials and Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out in the PubMed, Science Direct and Scielo databases, of articles in Portuguese and/or English, using the descriptors “catechins”, “green tea”, “obesity” and “cardiovascular disease”. Results: From the studies analyzed, it was found that catechins exert anti-obesity effects through mechanisms that inhibit the absorption and digestion of fats and, consequently, increase the excretion of this macronutrient; as well as by stimulating thermogenesis and regulating the action of orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones. In addition, the effects of these substances on vascular protection were evidenced in the literature. Conclusion: Catechins exert vascular protective effects through antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antithrombogenic and lipid-lowering mechanisms. However, more comprehensive investigations are needed to define optimal doses in different populations.

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