Single intake of matcha increases brown adipose tissue activity in young women with low thermogenesis

Matcha contains several bioactive compounds that contribute to the facilitation of thermogenesis. However, the effects of a single intake of matcha on brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between matcha intake and BAT activity. Healthy young women (n = 30) were enrolled in a randomized single-blind crossover trial. Participants consumed 3 g of matcha powder or a placebo and then received the alternate condition in a subsequent trial. BAT activity was analyzed using thermography with cold exposure. A stratified analysis was performed based on tertiles of maximal changes in BAT activity. BAT activity was increased for all participants following cold exposure; however, no significant difference in the increased levels was found between the matcha and placebo trials. Stratified analysis showed that BAT activity was significantly different in the placebo trial across the low, middle, and high tertile groups; however, this was not found in the matcha trial. Differences in maximal BAT activity between the matcha and placebo trials were significantly higher in the low activity group than in the other groups. These results suggest that matcha powder has beneficial effects on BAT thermogenesis in young women with lower BAT activity.