Garcinia cambogia: Evidence for weight loss, lipid-lowering effects

Abstract

G. cambogia and HCA The active ingredient in G. cambogia, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), is a competitive inhibitor of adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, and triglycerides. HCA is thought to improve the body’s ability to break down fat, increase satiety, and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These effects may improve exercise tolerance, decrease fat storage, and improve lipids.4 Many G. cambogia products exist, with each containing different HCA concentrations. For weight loss, an extract containing 50% HCA, 1,000 mg three times daily or 500 mg four times daily, has been used. A mild adverse effect pro le has been established, including headache, nausea, upper respiratory tract symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms.4 In 2009, FDA warned patients about the risk of liver toxicity with the dietary supplement Hydroxycut, which contained G. cambogia at the time. However, FDA was unable to determine if G. cambogia was the true cause of the events or if they were attributable to other ingredients.5