Examine the research on yerba mate.

Yerba mate, (yerbe mate) is said to be a stimulant that works similarly to caffeine, but does not have the unfavorable side effects that caffeine does. It is reported to be non-addicting and those individuals who react to caffeine have been able to tolerate it.

Yerba Mate is the dried leaf and stemlets of the perrenial tree Ilex paraguarensis, and has been traditionally brewed as a tea. There is a lot of talk about it, especially by those who sell supplements, but unfortunately not much published research, so I've listed those I am aware of at the moment.

Research Title: Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.

Year Published: 2001

Research Summary: Researchers tested the affect on capsules containing Yerbe Mate, Guarana and Damiana on 44 healthy but obese individuals, under placebo controlled, double blind conditions. They observed the effects over 10 and 45 days and then followed up with patients 12 months later. They found that patients in the treatment group (those that had taken the capsules containing Yerbe Mate, Guarana and Damiana had greater weight loss 5.1 +/- 0.5 kg compared to 0.3 +/- 0.08 kg for the placebo group over 45 days, but individuals also experienced delayed gastric emptying and reduced time to which individuals perceived that they were full. When followed up, participants had neither put weight on, or lost weight after 12 months of regularly taking the herbal capsules. More scientific investigation needs to be done into these herbs, to determine how these herbs work on the human body.

J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001 Jun;14(3):243-50.

Conclusions about Yerba Mate:

While the results of this study are favorable and significant, it is not conclusive and does not show whether or not yerbe mate by itself has any affect whatsoever on weight loss, without the interaction of Guarana or Damiana. So while yerbe mate may be a useful substance it is still very much an unknown herb, with long term affects unknown, safe doses not known and the overall efficacy in weight loss has also not been tested to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to be beneficial for weight loss and body fat reduction. It is for this reason, that I would recommend that supplements including yerba mate be treated with caution, and used only under medical supervision.

To date there is only one significant paper published on the effectiveness of yerba mate on weight loss. There have been other research completed on mate, however, not specifically studying its effects on weight loss. Notably there was a paper published in 2002, noting that there is some concern that yerba mate may be carcinogenic, and Goldenberg in his paper suggests that the use of yerba mate, should be considered a possible risk factor in oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

References:

Goldenberg, D Mate: a risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Oral-Oncol. 2002 Oct; 38(7): 646-9

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