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How safe is garcinia cambogia and other weight loss supplements? What is garcinia cambogia? There have also been reports of serious side effects, like liver failure.

The appeal of weight loss supplements Dr. Mathew says he understands why people reach for supplements in the first place. Mathew prescribes to the notion "treat your body like a temple.

Related Stories. Why do paper cuts hurt so much? The difference between allergies and a cold. That rind, however, also contains a chemical called hydroxycitric acid HCA , which is where the plant's weight-loss claims come into play—HCA has been studied for weight loss through appetite suppression, per the NCCIH which is why supplements that contain garcinia cambogia extract are also thought to help you lose weight.

While, yes, there have been studies on garcinia cambogia and weight loss, they haven't necessarily been reliable nor are they recent, for that matter. In a research review set to be published in , researchers found that only five randomized, controlled studies of garcinia cambogia's effect on weight loss have been done in the last 50 years, according to Scott Kahan, M.

FYI: there have been more than 14, studies on unfounded therapies for weight loss in that time, he says. What's more: In those five studies, participants saw very little weight loss. According to Kahan's research, there are very few severe side effects of garcina cambogia he only found a few examples of diarrhea, brain fog and, in rare cases, liver damage.

And according to the NCCIH, garcinia cambogia is pretty safe for short-term use 12 weeks or fewer. But while garcinia cambogia itself may not be terrible, the ingredients it comes packaged with in some weight-loss supplements can be.

Sibutramine had been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, cause jaundice, and trigger seizures—pretty nasty stuff. Another thing to note: since garcinia cambogia extract diet pills are supplements, not drugs, the FDA doesn't regulate their use or review their effectiveness or safety unless their use becomes linked to multiple hospitalizations, says Sue Decotiis, M.

That means that it's up to manufacturers to decide how much garcinia cambogia extract their pills pack, as well as what other health-impacting ingredients like sibutramine are added to the mix. Uh yeah, it's best to skip it. Possible side effects aside, Kahan says any weight-loss supplement containing garcinia cambogia is a waste of money.

The best known one is hydroxycitric acid HCA 3. HCA is the principal organic acid in garcinia cambogia, and some research has suggested that it may reduce body weight and food intake, as well as increase the number of calories you burn 2.

Studies indicate that it contributes to feelings of fullness and satisfaction, leading to a reduction in food intake. It has also been shown to accelerate fat oxidation and decrease fat production in the body 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. However, the effectiveness and safety of garcinia cambogia and HCA for weight loss have been called into question, as more recent studies have revealed that these supplements may not be as powerful as earlier research suggested 2.

Garcinia cambogia contains an organic acid called HCA, which may promote weight loss by suppressing appetite and enhancing fat oxidation. However, its effectiveness has been called into question in recent research. Although some earlier studies demonstrated that garcinia cambogia and HCA had powerful suppressive effects on calorie intake and enhanced weight loss and fat burning, more current reviews have not shown consistent results.

Additionally, a study in 60 adults observed that treatment with an HCA supplement that provided 2, mg of the compound per day for 8 weeks led to a 5.

Furthermore, other older studies with small sample sizes indicate that HCA may suppress fat accumulation 9 , Yet, most of the studies that have noted positive results have used small sample sizes and were performed over short periods of less than 3 months Plus, other studies show that HCA and garcinia cambogia supplements have no beneficial effects on calorie intake, fat burning, or weight loss, adding more doubt that these supplements promote fat loss 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , Given the contradictory findings and overall lack of large, long-term, well-designed studies, research reviews have consistently reported that not enough evidence is available to suggest that garcinia cambogia is an effective tool for weight loss 2 , For example, an update article that included a review of 22 studies revealed that both HCA and garcinia cambogia had limited or no effects on weight loss, feelings of fullness, or calorie intake in human studies 2.

Another review of 9 studies found treatment with garcinia cambogia resulted in small yet significant short-term decreases in weight loss compared with a placebo. Yet, this significance was not observed when only well-designed randomized controlled trials were evaluated Thus, based on the most recent findings, the overall effect of garcinia cambogia and HCA on weight loss is small at best, and the clinical relevance of the positive findings related to garcinia cambogia and HCA are questionable Some research suggests that garcinia cambogia and HCA may promote short-term weight loss, but reviews of literature and well-designed studies have found limited or no benefit.

Therefore, these supplements cannot be recommended with certainty. Although some research demonstrates that garcinia cambogia and HCA supplements are safe, there have been reports of toxicity related to the ingestion of high doses of the supplement.

A review of 17 studies including people concluded that HCA did not cause adverse effects at dosages up to 2, mg per day However, garcinia cambogia supplements have been linked to liver failure and other adverse effects in other, more recent studies.

One such case resulted after a year-old man consumed 2, mg of a supplement containing garcinia cambogia extract daily for 5 months. The man experienced severe drug-induced liver failure and required a transplant 1.

Another case of liver toxicity involved a year-old woman with no history of liver disease. The woman developed acute hepatitis after consuming 2, mg of pure garcinia cambogia extract daily for 1 month to promote weight loss. The condition resolved when the women stopped taking the supplement.

Yet, after 6 months, she resumed taking the same dose to promote weight loss, which again resulted in liver injury Additionally, there have been many other cases of liver toxicity related to supplementing with multi-ingredient supplements that contained HCA HCA was also the main ingredient in older formulations of Hydroxycut, a popular dietary supplement that caused 23 known cases of liver toxicity.

Although the supplement also contained ephedra , which the FDA banned in , 10 of the 23 cases that resulted in liver toxicity — one of which resulted in death — were reported after the removal of ephedra from the product 1.

While, yes, there have been studies on garcinia cambogia and weight loss, they haven't necessarily been reliable nor are they recent, for that matter. In a research review set to be published in , researchers found that only five randomized, controlled studies of garcinia cambogia's effect on weight loss have been done in the last 50 years, according to Scott Kahan, M.

FYI: there have been more than 14, studies on unfounded therapies for weight loss in that time, he says. What's more: In those five studies, participants saw very little weight loss.

According to Kahan's research, there are very few severe side effects of garcina cambogia he only found a few examples of diarrhea, brain fog and, in rare cases, liver damage. And according to the NCCIH, garcinia cambogia is pretty safe for short-term use 12 weeks or fewer.

But while garcinia cambogia itself may not be terrible, the ingredients it comes packaged with in some weight-loss supplements can be. Sibutramine had been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, cause jaundice, and trigger seizures—pretty nasty stuff.

Another thing to note: since garcinia cambogia extract diet pills are supplements, not drugs, the FDA doesn't regulate their use or review their effectiveness or safety unless their use becomes linked to multiple hospitalizations, says Sue Decotiis, M.

That means that it's up to manufacturers to decide how much garcinia cambogia extract their pills pack, as well as what other health-impacting ingredients like sibutramine are added to the mix. Uh yeah, it's best to skip it. Possible side effects aside, Kahan says any weight-loss supplement containing garcinia cambogia is a waste of money.

And honestly, that goes for weight-loss supplements in general. Basically, diet supplements—including ones containing garcinia cambogia—aren't worth the risk, or money. If you want to lose weight, speak to your doctor first, and focus on combining a healthy, balanced diet with regular exercise, suggests Kahan.

The bottom line : Don't waste your money on any weight-loss supplements including ones with garcinia cambogia. At best, they're ineffective; at worst, they're harmful.

Can The Alpilean Ice Diet Help You Lose Weight? Can Magnesium Help You Lose Weight? Besser also advises her patients to avoid garcinia cambogia in addition to other weight loss supplements. Rahnama has a more open view on the supplement.

Garcinia cambogia is not a magic bullet where you can eat all you want. Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

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Medically Reviewed. Roxana Ehsani, RD, LDN. What It Does Weight Loss Role Jump to More Topics. You may have heard about garcinia cambogia for its use as a weight loss supplement. But before you check out your local drug store or favorite online retailer to buy a bottle of garcinia cambogia capsules, you should know that medical professionals question the effectiveness of this product.

Typically, a healthy diet and exercise are the best approaches to weight loss, not a dietary supplement. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking.

Resources Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. May 18, Garcinia Cambogia. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. December Kovacs EMR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS.

July Onakpoya I, Hung SK, Perry R, et al. The Use of Garcinia Extract Hydroxycitric acid as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials. Journal of Obesity.

Chuah LO, Ho WY, Beh BK, Yeap SK. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Vasques CAR, Schneider R, Klein-Júnior LC, et al.

Hypolipemic Effect of Garcinia Cambogia in Obese Women. Phytotherapy Research. June Kim J-E, Jeon S-M, Park KH, et al.

Does Glycine Max Leaves or Garcinia Cambogia Promote Weight-Loss or Lower Plasma Cholesterol in Overweight Individuals: A Randomized Control Trial. Nutrition Journal. September 21, Semwal RB, Semwal DK, Vermaak I, Vilijoen A.

A Comprehensive Scientific Overview of Garcinia Cambogia. April Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

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Garcinia is definitely not for everyone. People with certain medical conditions should avoid taking it. That includes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, garcinia is not recommended for people with diabetes, Alzheimer's or those taking statin medication for high cholesterol.

Patients were only studied for 12 weeks on the supplement; so, until larger, longer studies are conducted, it's recommended to limit use to three months and make sure you eat healthy and exercise daily.

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