Leaf tea and supplement acting through the cell's energy-sensing switch. The clearest human finding is better blood sugar handling, reproduced with plain leaf tea. Lower blood fats, higher protective cholesterol, modest fat loss and better endurance rest on weaker evidence. Mild digestive upset is common; long-term safety beyond about six months is unstudied. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL (4.2–4.8 mmol/L) | Primary target of the best-supported effect |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.3% | Confirms a sustained rather than a single-day glucose change |
| Fasting insulin | 2–5 µIU/mL | Distinguishes true insulin sensitisation from simple glucose lowering |
| HOMA-IR | Below 1.0 | Single number summarising insulin resistance, the outcome improved in the tea trials |
| Triglycerides | Below 80 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L) | The lipid fraction jiaogulan moves most reliably |
| HDL cholesterol | Above 60 mg/dL (men), above 70 mg/dL (women) | The second lipid fraction with meta-analytic support |
| ALT | 10–20 U/L (men), 8–17 U/L (women) | Fatty liver marker that fell in two trials |
| Platelet count | 200–350 × 10⁹/L | The one documented serious adverse signal |
| Visceral fat mass | No established target; track change from own baseline | The body-composition endpoint that moved in trials |
| Seated blood pressure | Below 120/80 mmHg | Detects the theoretical additive vasodilation |
Cadence: Complete blood count at 4 weeks, full panel at 12 weeks, then every 6 months for as long as use continues; daily self-checked fasting glucose through the first 4 weeks for anyone taking glucose-lowering medication.