Garcinia gummi-gutta

Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More
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This information describes the common uses of Garcinia gummi-gutta, how it works, and its possible side effects.
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.

What is it?

Garcinia gummi-gutta and one of its active compounds, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), have been promoted for weight loss or body building, but evidence is insufficient and mixed.

Garcinia gummi-gutta, better known by its older name Garcinia cambogia, is a plant native to Southeast Asia. The fruit rinds are used as a flavoring agent and in traditional medicine. The extract and its active compound, HCA, can be found in many products promoted for weight loss or body building.

Preclinical animal studies suggest some benefits on weight and feed intake. However, human studies are limited and generally did not find effects on appetite, calorie intake, or weight loss.

G. cambogia and HCA supplements may cause liver toxicity. Patients who have cancer, diabetes, depression, or other chronic diseases should use garcinia with caution as it may interact with medications.

What are the potential uses and benefits?

  • Appetite suppression
    Humans studies are limited and did not find decreases in calorie intake or appetite.
  • Obesity, weight loss
    Controlled trials are mixed, but showed no benefit over placebo for weight loss.
  • Gastrointestinal problems
    Although garcinia has been used in traditional medicine, studies on its effects for digestive problems have not been conducted.

What are the side effects?

Common: Nausea, headache, GI discomfort
Rare: Itching around the mouth, upper respiratory tract symptoms

Case Reports

Acute hepatitis, livery injury/toxicity: Multiple cases

Liver failure requiring transplant: In a 52-year-old woman and a 34-year old man, both associated with the use of G. cambogia.

Mania, psychosis: Several cases, both with and without psychiatric histories

Skeletal muscle damage: In an 18-year-old man, possibly associated with the ingestion of an herbal supplement that contained HCA in addition to his increased exercise regimen.

Acute kidney injury: In a 38-year-old obese woman after long-term use of an HCA-containing supplement.

Serotonin toxicity: Suspected in a 35-year-old woman taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) along with a nutritional supplement containing G. cambogia and HCA.

Cardiovascular toxicity: In a previously healthy 48-year-old woman taking G. cambogia extract.

Diabetic complications, pancreatic inflammation, and severe heart muscle weakness: In a 56-year-old woman with a complex medical history and whose outpatient medication had not been adjusted in the last 3 years. These events occurred after several weeks of G. cambogia consumption and sudden weight loss, and was therefore felt to be possibly related.

Acute pancreatitis: Possibly associated with garcinia, in an 82-year-old man with history of obesity and prior gallbladder removal.

Decreased vision and ocular pain: In an obese patient who took garcinia extract at a higher than recommended dose.

What else do I need to know?

Do Not Take if:

  • You are having lab tests to measure cholesterol or blood sugar levels: Taking garcinia may cause results to be inaccurate.
  • You are taking antidepressants: Several case reports have described manias and potential interactions with antidepressants.
  • You have liver problems: A number of case reports have associated G. cambogia and HCA supplements with liver toxicity and injury.
  • You are pregnant: G. cambogia has not been tested in pregnant women.
  • You have diabetes: G. cambogia can decrease insulin levels and affect blood sugar levels.
  • You are taking CYP2B6 substrate drugs: Lab studies suggest potential interactions with drugs metabolized by this enzyme and garcinia. A number of drug classes may be affected, including antitumor drugs (cyclophosphamide, ifosphamide, and sorafenib), antimalarials (artemisinin), antidepressants (bupropion, selegiline), antivirals (efavirenz), analgesics (methadone, meperidine), and anticonvulsants (valproic acid).

Special Point:

Garcinia cambogia should not be confused with Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen).