Garcinia cambogia extract (GC) with its active component consisting of
hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is widely utilized for
weight loss. Various HCA
salts are available, including
calcium,
magnesium,
potassium and mixtures of these. Experimentally, these
salts exhibit different properties with some, but not all, improving
glucose tolerance and blood pressure. Recently,
obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 45 kcal% fat) with or without GC (1%, w/w) for 16 wk. The active arm reduced visceral fat, adipocyte size and serum
glucose, yet purportedly also exhibited hepatic
collagen accumulation, lipid peroxidation and increased
mRNA levels of genes related to oxidative stress. The latter findings are at odds with a large body of animal and human studies that have been conducted on the safety and efficacy of HCA. This literature shows HCA to be protective against the liver toxicity associated with
ethanol and
dexamethasone administration, and to maintain serum
aspartate aminotransferase,
alanine aminotransferase and
alkaline phosphatase at near normal levels. In both animal and clinical literature, elevated intakes of HCA per se have not led to signs of
inflammation or hepatotoxicity. The compound has been found to reduce markers of
inflammation in brain, intestines, kidney and serum.