New Study Discovers Fat-Trapping Green Tea Beads for Safe Weight Loss

A recent study presented at the ACS Fall 2025 Digital Meeting by researchers from Sichuan University has developed edible microbeads made from green tea polyphenols, vitamin E, and seaweed that may provide a safer, noninvasive approach to weight loss. These microbeads work by binding dietary fats in the gut, reducing fat absorption without the side effects linked to surgery or pharmaceuticals. The findings are published in Cell Biomaterials.

The research team, led by graduate student Yue Wu, tested the microbeads in rats fed high-fat diets. Rats consuming the microbeads lost 17% of their body weight, showed reduced fat tissue and liver damage, and excreted more fat compared to those without the microbeads. Importantly, the microbeads caused no gastrointestinal side effects, unlike the FDA-approved weight-loss drug orlistat.

The microbeads are plant-based and nearly flavorless. They form through chemical bonds between green tea polyphenols and vitamin E, coated in seaweed-derived polymer to protect them through the stomach. Once in the intestine, the microbeads expand and trap dietary fats, preventing their absorption.