Supplement analysis backed by scientific evidence · PT

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Limited evidenceWeight management

Lotus Leaf

The leaf of Nelumbo nucifera, used in Chinese medicine and sold as a slimming tea for its quercetin glycosides. Everything supporting the weight and lipid claims comes from mice, rats and cell culture; no randomized human trial has been published.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

  • Anti-obesity effects are rodent-only Limited evidence

    Lotus leaf extract reduced fat accumulation in mice and altered hepatic glycogen handling in diabetic KK-Ay mice, with quercetin-3-O-glucuronide identified as the main active compound. Separate rodent studies report effects on gut microbiota and brown fat thermogenesis. None of this has been tested in humans.

  • No human weight-loss trials Limited evidence

    PubMed contains no randomized controlled trial of lotus leaf extract for body weight, waist circumference or blood lipids in people. Products in this category are sold on preclinical mechanism alone.

  • Relevant drug-interaction potential Limited evidence

    Lotus leaves were found to contain potent inhibitors of CYP2D6 in an in vitro study, an enzyme responsible for metabolizing a large share of common prescription drugs. This is an in vitro finding, but it is a reason for caution rather than reassurance.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Traditional tea uses 3–10 g of dried leaf per infusion; extract capsules usually state 500 mg once or twice daily as a label dose.
SafetyHuman safety data are limited. The CYP2D6 inhibition signal means possible interactions with antidepressants, beta-blockers, opioids such as codeine and tamoxifen; do not combine without medical advice. Contains alkaloids including nuciferine with sedative activity in animals. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and treat lotus leaf slimming teas containing added laxatives as belonging to the detox-tea category rather than this one.

Scientific references

Where to buy

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