We studied the effect of Chinese tea on obese mice (KK-A^y) as a preliminary stage in a study to investigate the effect of Kampo formulations on body weight. Thirty male KK-A^y mice aged six weeks were given basic food ad libitum combined with oolong and tuo tea or with jasmine tea for 16 weeks. Body weight was measured regularly during this period. On completion of the study, the mice were examined biochemically, and various organs were investigated histologically.
The control mice were given tap water ad libitum. Two groups given tea showed lower body weight than the controls throughout the study. Those given jasmine tea, in particular, recorded the maximum rate of weight decrease, i. e. 16.5%, at 5 weeks, even though the mean food consumption was high in this group during the study.
Many factors are involved in body weight, and we could not elucidate the mechanism of weight loss. The study, however, demonstrated that jasmine tea is effective in decreasing the weight of mature KK-A^y obese mice.