Ingredient profile
Does Glyco Defender Have Caffeine? Green Tea and Guarana, Line by Line
Yes, Glyco Defender has some caffeine. Guarana seed extract (4th in the blend) and green tea leaf extract (7th) are both caffeine sources, but the label prints no caffeine amount. Their places cap them at about 3.9 mg and 2.2 mg of extract per dropperful, and caffeine is only part of that weight.
Written by the Glyco Defender label deskUpdated
The short answer01
Does Glyco Defender have caffeine?
Yes. Glyco Defender contains caffeine from two blend lines: guarana seed extract and green tea leaf extract. The label does not say how much.
Guarana seeds contain caffeine, and MSKCC attributes many of guarana's effects to it (MSKCC, Guarana). Green tea contains caffeine too (NCCIH, Green Tea). The NIH notes that some labels with guarana do not declare a caffeine amount (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss), and this one is among them.
The two profiles below show each label line next to the research. Both lines carry the 20:1 extract mark.
| Name on the label | Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) Seed Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Paullinia cupana seed |
| Place on the label | 4 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropperful) | Not listed; #4 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 3.9 mg per mL |
| Extract footnote | 20:1 concentrate |
| Amount used in research | Caffeine source |
| Strength of evidence | Not a blood sugar ingredient |
| Marketed or traditional use | Natural caffeine |
| Main caution | Caffeine: insomnia, jitters; caution with other stimulants. |
| Name on the label | Green Tea Leaf Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Camellia sinensis leaf |
| Place on the label | 7 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropperful) | Not listed; #7 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 2.2 mg per mL |
| Extract footnote | 20:1 concentrate |
| Amount used in research | 141-1,207 mg catechins (weight studies) |
| Strength of evidence | Small, inconsistent |
| Marketed or traditional use | Catechins and caffeine |
| Main caution | Rare liver injury from extracts; contains caffeine. |
Label math02
How much caffeine is in one dropperful of Glyco Defender?
Less than the combined weight of the two extracts, which is at most about 6.1 mg per dropperful. The exact caffeine figure is not printed, so that is a ceiling, not a measurement.
The blend lists lines from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). Guarana, 4th, holds at most 15.47 mg divided by 4, about 3.9 mg. Green tea, 7th, holds at most about 2.2 mg. Caffeine is only one part of each extract.
FDA cites 400 mg of caffeine a day, about two to three 12-oz cups of coffee, as an amount most healthy adults handle without harm (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?). The full weight of both lines is under 2% of that.
| Line | Place | Most per mL | Caffeine printed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guarana seed extract | 4 of 21 | About 3.9 mg of extract | Not published |
| Green tea leaf extract | 7 of 21 | About 2.2 mg of extract | Not published |
| Both lines together | - | Under 6.1 mg of extract | Not published |
| FDA reference, healthy adults | - | 400 mg caffeine a day | Source: FDA (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?) |
Guarana03
What is guarana and why is it in the blend?
Guarana is the plant Paullinia cupana, whose seeds are a natural caffeine source. Glyco Defender lists "Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) Seed Extract" 4th of 21, so it is one of the heavier lines.
It is not a blood sugar ingredient. Its role in a formula like this is caffeine.
MSKCC lists nausea and insomnia as common side effects. High doses can cause vomiting, heartbeat changes, high blood pressure and seizures (MSKCC, Guarana).
The label names the seed extract. The red fruit in the photo holds the black seeds that the extract comes from.
Green tea04
What does green tea extract add to Glyco Defender?
Green tea leaf extract adds catechins, plant compounds studied for weight, plus some caffeine. It sits 7th in the blend, so one dropperful holds at most about 2.2 mg of extract.
Studies on weight used 141 to 1,207 mg of catechins a day (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss). NCCIH says catechins plus caffeine may have only a modest effect on body weight (NCCIH, Green Tea).
No study we cite tested an amount near 2.2 mg. Treat the line as a minor caffeine and catechin source.
The footnote05
Do the 20:1 marks mean more caffeine?
No. A 20:1 mark says about 20 parts of dried plant went into each part of extract. It reflects yield, not potency, and does not tell you the caffeine content (Monagas et al., Front Pharmacol 2022).
The label weight holds either way. Multiplying 3.9 mg by 20 would describe raw plant, not what lands in your mouth.
A caffeine figure per mL on the label or a published lab report. Neither exists today, so the safe reading is "some caffeine, amount unknown".
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsDaily use06
Can the caffeine in Glyco Defender cause jitters or poor sleep?
In most people the small amount is unlikely to cause jitters, but no one can promise that, because the caffeine dose is unknown. Sensitive people and heavy coffee drinkers should watch how they feel.
The sales page promises results "without stimulant jitters" (Glyco Defender sales page), yet the label lists two caffeine sources.
FDA lists too much caffeine as a cause of a racing heartbeat, trouble sleeping, anxiety, shakiness, upset stomach and headache (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?).
- Take the dropperful in the morning, such as at breakfast
- Count it with coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks
- Poor sleep after starting: move the dose earlier or ask your doctor
More on timing sits on how to use Glyco Defender.
Safety07
Is green tea extract safe for the liver?
Liver injury from green tea extract is uncommon, but it has been reported, mostly with extracts in tablets or capsules (NCCIH, Green Tea). The NIH weight-loss fact sheet also links green tea extracts to liver damage (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss).
At most 2.2 mg per dropperful is a small amount. Still, anyone with liver disease should show the label to a doctor first.
Both lines can interact with medicines. High doses of green tea reduce blood levels of nadolol, a beta-blocker (NCCIH, Green Tea). Guarana may not be safe with other stimulants and may raise bleeding risk with warfarin (MSKCC, Guarana).
Do not change a heart, blood pressure, blood-thinning or diabetes medicine because of a supplement. Ask a pharmacist about caffeine and your prescriptions (ADA, Vitamins & Supplements).
The full list is on the side effects page.
The formula08
Which other Glyco Defender ingredients sit near guarana and green tea?
Guarana sits right after grape seed, and green tea comes just before gymnema. Eleuthero and astragalus fill places 5 and 6 between them.
The full ingredient list shows every line in label order, and the supplement facts page types out the panel.
FAQ09
Caffeine, guarana and green tea questions
How much caffeine is in Glyco Defender?
The label does not say. Guarana and green tea are the caffeine sources, and their places in the blend cap them at about 3.9 mg and 2.2 mg of extract per dropperful. Caffeine is only part of that weight, so the true figure is lower, but unmeasured.
Is Glyco Defender stimulant-free?
No. Guarana seed extract and green tea leaf extract both contain caffeine (MSKCC, Guarana) (NCCIH, Green Tea), so the drops are not stimulant-free. The amount is likely small, but the label prints no caffeine figure. People who avoid caffeine entirely should know both lines are there.
Can I drink coffee while taking Glyco Defender?
Most healthy adults can, as long as total caffeine stays sensible. FDA cites 400 mg a day, about two to three 12-oz cups of coffee, as generally fine for most healthy adults (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?). Count the drops as a small extra source, and cut back if you feel shaky.
What is guarana seed extract?
It is an extract made from the seeds of the guarana plant, Paullinia cupana. Those seeds contain caffeine, which explains most of guarana's effects (MSKCC, Guarana). In Glyco Defender it is 4th of 21 blend lines, at most about 3.9 mg of extract per dropperful.
Can green tea extract hurt your liver?
Rarely. NCCIH reports uncommon cases of liver injury, mainly from green tea extracts in tablets or capsules (NCCIH, Green Tea). The amount in a Glyco Defender dropperful is at most about 2.2 mg. If you have liver disease, or notice yellow skin or dark urine, call your doctor.
Should I take Glyco Defender in the morning because of the caffeine?
Morning is a sensible choice. The label names no time of day, so pick a fixed time you will remember, such as breakfast. Because guarana and green tea add caffeine, an evening dose could affect sleep in people who are sensitive to it.
Does the guarana in Glyco Defender affect blood thinners?
It may. MSKCC says guarana may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin and may not be safe with other stimulants (MSKCC, Guarana). If you take warfarin or a similar drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting the drops.
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk for Glyco Defender, not by the manufacturer or the label's distributor. Buying through our order links earns us money.
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