The Malabar tamarind was once just the less popular cousin of a trendy fruit, the mangosteen. But now, nutritional supplements containing extracts of the fruit with the scientific name Garcinia cambogia have become the rage, touted for their purported ability to and stop weight gain.The Malabar tamarind, also known as the gambooge fruit, grows across southwest India, Myanmar and Indonesia. It ripens to a red or yellowish fruit about the size of an orange, but resembling the shape of a pumpkin.People have long used the dried gambooge rinds for chutneys or curries, and sometimes as an aid for stomach problems. But in the late 1960s, scientists identified a substance in the rind of the fruit called hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, which has some potentially attractive qualities.'
Garcinia cambogia—a.k.a. Malabar tamarind—is a fruit commonly grown in India and Southeast Asia, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Garcinia cambogia has side effects — it may lower a person's blood sugar, so it can interact with diabetes treatments. The fruit hasn't been adequately studied in pregnant women or women who breastfeed. And Garcinia cambogia may be a problem for patients with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, Ulbricht said.
Some studies have shown that HCA stops an enzyme that turns sugar into fat,' said Catherine Ulbricht, senior pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and co-founder of, which reviews evidence on herbs and supplements.A fruit extract that could interfere with the body's production of fat? The appeal is obvious.
However, good results in test tubes don't always translate to an entire person.Does Garcinia cambogia work?Some studies say HCA works, and some say it doesn't. Animal studies of HCA showed that mice taking the substance ate less, and produced less fat from sugar.Human studies had more conflicting results. One weight loss trial showed no difference between people who took Garcinia cambogia and those who took a placebo pill. Other trials linked HCA to weight loss and healthy blood lipid levels (lipids are fats).' Further, well-designed clinical trials are needed before any firm conclusions can be made,' Ulbricht said.If a pharmaceutical company wanted to sell HCA as a drug, the company would have to find stronger evidence that the substance worked, coming from better-designed clinical trials. Without that data, HCA wouldn't pass U.S.
Food and Drug Administration approval, Ulbricht said. But the FDA doesn't put chemicals sold as as pharmaceuticals.In fact, supplement makers only have to make their products safe to eat and responsibly label them.
Also, recent laboratory tests showed that most supplements sold online.Despite the popularity of Garcinia cambogia, it is difficult to track how effective supplements containing it are.' Preparation of products may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and from batch to batch within one manufacturer,' Ulbricht said. That makes it difficult to compare one brand to another or even to measure the effects of a single brand.Is Garcinia cambogia safe?People may safely eat the fruit, of course. And clinical trials have shown it's safe to take Garcinia cambogia extract by mouth — at least for 12 weeks, the length of the studies.But take caution. Garcinia cambogia has side effects — it may, so it can interact with diabetes treatments. The fruit hasn't been adequately studied in pregnant women or women who breastfeed. And Garcinia cambogia may be a problem for patients with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, Ulbricht said.In 2009, the FDA issued a safety warning after receiving more than 20 reports of severe reactions, including liver damage, in people taking the supplement Hydroxycut.
At the time, extract and other compounds, including chromium polynicotinate and Gymnema sylvestre extract.A published in 2016 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology by Keri E. Lunsford, et al., examined an instance where Garcinia cambogia caused hepatic failure resulting in the need of a liver transplant. The subject had taken the supplement for several months before his liver had failed.
The researchers report that this is the first known case of acute liver failure known to be tied to Garcinia cambogia. Liver damage due to other drugs and alcohol had been ruled out, and Garcinia cambogia was the only supplement or drug that the patient had ingested. Much more research is needed in this area, according to the researchers, and in the meantime, the public should be made aware of the potential risks of taking this supplement.Ulbricht said it's unclear if the Garcinia cambogia extract caused the liver damage.The bottom line is that people should tell their doctors before trying a new supplement, including Garcinia cambogia and HCA, she said.Additional reporting by Rachel Ross, Live Science contributor. Lauren Cox, Live Science ContributorLauren Cox is a contributing writer for Live Science. She writes health and technology features, covers emerging science and specializes in news of the weird. Her work has previously appeared online at ABC News, Technology Review and Popular Mechanics.
Lauren loves molecules, literature, black coffee, big dogs and climbing up mountains in her spare time. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College and a master of science degree in science journalism from Boston University.
What is Garcinia Cambogia Used for?One of the most important benefits of garcinia cambogia is that is it used for weight loss. Garcinia cambogia can aid in lowering an individual's appetite by increasing the production of serotonin neurotransmitter, which is known to be associated with calm and happy feelings.
This sometimes, help in appetite suppression and reduced desire for comfort foods. Moreover, garcinia cambogia is also known to keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check. Garcinia cambogia can help in controlling blood sugar levels by improving how cells take up glucose or sugar to be used for energy in the body. Garcinia Cambogia May Not be Safe for Your Liver:Garcinia Cambogia is not safe as it may cause a liver damage. In 2009, the FDA or food and drug administration warned everyone to stop using a weight-loss product that contained Garcinia cambogia as some people taking it, got severe liver problems. However, the product has also other ingredients and thus, it is not clear that Garcinia cambogia was to blame. Though some research suggests the supplement is safe to use and causes no liver damage, other research says no.
Conclusion:We now know about the side effects of Garcinia cambogia. However, if you still want to try taking Garcinia cambogia for weight loss and other benefits, then here is what you need to know about the dosage recommendations.Studies using Garcinia cambogia have used a wide range of doses, anywhere from 1 gram to 2.8 grams per day. Typical doses are generally between 250 to 1000 mg/day. It is always advised that you must consult with your doctor to help you decide if taking Garcinia cambogia is a good idea for you or not. Sometimes, even if garcinia cambogia may be safe and you may not experience any side effects, you may also not get any benefits from it in weight loss.Also Read:.