The impact of Ephedra and green tea combination mesotherapy on localized fat: A randomized-controlled clinical trial

Aim of the study The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mesotherapy treatment with Ephedra and green tea extract in combination on localized fat of overweight women subjects. Materials and methods Twenty-five overweight women, 20–35-years-of-age, body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m2 were randomly assigned into active (Ephedra + green tea, n = 13) and placebo (saline, n = 12) groups. A total eight herbal or saline mesotherapy administrations were performed into the thighs alternatively in two phases, each one comprising of four consecutive treatments on one thigh on weekly basis. Body composition parameters, circumference and subcutaneous fat area of thighs were measured before and after each phase, in addition to evaluating fasting free fatty acid (FFA) level of blood as well as adverse events of the therapy in volunteers. Results There were no significant changes in the body weight, BMI, body fat, and subcutaneous fat area of thigh within or between the groups, but the change in thigh circumference within the active group was significantly lower compared to that within the placebo group. The blood FFA level at 1 h after the first herbal therapy was significantly higher than that recorded at other time points of pre- and post-treatment measurements. Conclusions The herbal mesotherapy treatment produced a significant effect on thigh circumference and fasting-FFA level within the active group. Future studies that compensate for the limitations of this trial are required to fully ascertain the efficacy and safety of the proposed mesotherapy, and a very careful consideration is needed until then.