| Garcinia cambogia side effects and health benefits |
Obesity is a global public health problem, with about 315 million people worldwide
estimated to fall into the WHO-defined obesity categories. Traditional herbal medicines
may have some potential in managing obesity. Botanical dietary supplements often contain
complex mixtures of phytochemicals that have additive or synergistic interactions.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA?
The dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is a unique
source of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which exhibits a distinct sour taste and has been
safely used for centuries in Southeastern Asia to make meals more filling. [3] Garcinia
extract has been used as anti-obesity agent. In cell studies, Garcinia extract has been
shown to inhibit the cytoplasmic lipid accumulation and adipogenic differentiation of
preadipocytes. [2]
(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is also a popular supplement for weight management.
[1]
HCA is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, which catalyzes the
conversion of citrate and coenzyme A to oxaloacetate and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA)
in the cytosol. Acetyl CoA is used in the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and
triglycerides, and in the synthesis of acetylcholine in the central nervous system. [4]
Recently, researchers have developed a derivative of HCA, known as HCA-SX or Super
Citrimax to weight management or obesity prevention. They found low-dose oral HCA-SX
altered the body weight and abdominal fat gene expression profile of Sprague-Dawley rats.
[3] Basically, HCA-SX is suggested that it can promote fat oxidation, enhance serotonin
release and availability in the brain cortex, normalize lipid profiles, and lowes serum leptin
levels in obese subjects. or in hematology, clinical chemistry, and histopathology. [4]
SIDE EFFECTS AND TOXICITY OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA EXTRACTs
A study of rats show the treatment of (-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a natural extract from the
dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, over a period of 90 days results in a reduction in body
weight, but did not cause any changes in hepatic and testicular lipid peroxidation, DNA
fragmentation, or histopathological changes. [1] However, in a study of male Zucker obese
rats, diets containing high content of Garcinia cambogia extracts caused potent testicular
atrophy and toxicity.
In a subchronic study in rats, the administration of HCA-SX at doses up to 2500 mg/kg/day
for a period of 90 days caused a significant decrease in body weight and reduction in feed
consumption without any serious side effects. Some researchers believe that HCA-SX is
unlikely to cause reproductive or developmental effects. [5]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 ZHION.
REFERENCE:
[1] Shara M et al, Dose- and time-dependent effects of a novel (-)-hydroxycitric acid extract on body weight,
hepatic and testicular lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation and histopathological data over a period of 90
days. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Dec;254(1-2):339-46. [2] Kim MS et al, Anti-adipogenic effects of Garcinia
extract on the lipid droplet accumulation and the expression of transcription factor. Biofactors.
2004;22(1-4):193-6. [3] Roy S et al, Body weight and abdominal fat gene expression profile in response to a
novel hydroxycitric acid-based dietary supplement. Gene Expr. 2004;11(5-6):251-62. [4] Shara M et al,
Physico-chemical properties of a novel (-)-hydroxycitric acid extract and its effect on body weight, selected
organ weights, hepatic lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, hematology and clinical chemistry, and
histopathological changes over a period of 90 days. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):171-86. [5] Soni MG
et al, Safety assessment of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and Super CitriMax, a novel calcium/potassium salt. Food
Chem Toxicol. 2004 Sep;42(9):1513-29. [6] Saito M, High dose of Garcinia cambogia is effective in
suppressing fat accumulation in developing male Zucker obese rats, but highly toxic to the testis. Food Chem
Toxicol. 2005 Mar;43(3):411-9.
estimated to fall into the WHO-defined obesity categories. Traditional herbal medicines
may have some potential in managing obesity. Botanical dietary supplements often contain
complex mixtures of phytochemicals that have additive or synergistic interactions.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA?
The dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is a unique
source of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which exhibits a distinct sour taste and has been
safely used for centuries in Southeastern Asia to make meals more filling. [3] Garcinia
extract has been used as anti-obesity agent. In cell studies, Garcinia extract has been
shown to inhibit the cytoplasmic lipid accumulation and adipogenic differentiation of
preadipocytes. [2]
(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is also a popular supplement for weight management.
[1]
HCA is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, which catalyzes the
conversion of citrate and coenzyme A to oxaloacetate and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA)
in the cytosol. Acetyl CoA is used in the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and
triglycerides, and in the synthesis of acetylcholine in the central nervous system. [4]
Recently, researchers have developed a derivative of HCA, known as HCA-SX or Super
Citrimax to weight management or obesity prevention. They found low-dose oral HCA-SX
altered the body weight and abdominal fat gene expression profile of Sprague-Dawley rats.
[3] Basically, HCA-SX is suggested that it can promote fat oxidation, enhance serotonin
release and availability in the brain cortex, normalize lipid profiles, and lowes serum leptin
levels in obese subjects. or in hematology, clinical chemistry, and histopathology. [4]
SIDE EFFECTS AND TOXICITY OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA EXTRACTs
A study of rats show the treatment of (-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a natural extract from the
dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, over a period of 90 days results in a reduction in body
weight, but did not cause any changes in hepatic and testicular lipid peroxidation, DNA
fragmentation, or histopathological changes. [1] However, in a study of male Zucker obese
rats, diets containing high content of Garcinia cambogia extracts caused potent testicular
atrophy and toxicity.
In a subchronic study in rats, the administration of HCA-SX at doses up to 2500 mg/kg/day
for a period of 90 days caused a significant decrease in body weight and reduction in feed
consumption without any serious side effects. Some researchers believe that HCA-SX is
unlikely to cause reproductive or developmental effects. [5]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED 2008 ZHION.
REFERENCE:
[1] Shara M et al, Dose- and time-dependent effects of a novel (-)-hydroxycitric acid extract on body weight,
hepatic and testicular lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation and histopathological data over a period of 90
days. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Dec;254(1-2):339-46. [2] Kim MS et al, Anti-adipogenic effects of Garcinia
extract on the lipid droplet accumulation and the expression of transcription factor. Biofactors.
2004;22(1-4):193-6. [3] Roy S et al, Body weight and abdominal fat gene expression profile in response to a
novel hydroxycitric acid-based dietary supplement. Gene Expr. 2004;11(5-6):251-62. [4] Shara M et al,
Physico-chemical properties of a novel (-)-hydroxycitric acid extract and its effect on body weight, selected
organ weights, hepatic lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, hematology and clinical chemistry, and
histopathological changes over a period of 90 days. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):171-86. [5] Soni MG
et al, Safety assessment of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and Super CitriMax, a novel calcium/potassium salt. Food
Chem Toxicol. 2004 Sep;42(9):1513-29. [6] Saito M, High dose of Garcinia cambogia is effective in
suppressing fat accumulation in developing male Zucker obese rats, but highly toxic to the testis. Food Chem
Toxicol. 2005 Mar;43(3):411-9.
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