Garcinia Cambogia
Garcinia cambogia (HCA) is marketed for weight loss. High-quality evidence for meaningful fat loss is weak.
Overview
What is garcinia cambogia?
Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit that is commonly used as a weight-loss supplement. It contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA).
Dosage
A typical dose of garcinia cambogia taken for weight loss is 500 mg hydroxycitric acid three times per day before meals.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most garcinia cambogia research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Obesity accounts for 8 of 13 studies (62%).
- Athletic performance accounts for 2 of 13 studies (15%).
- Hyperlipidemia accounts for 2 of 13 studies (15%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Athletic performance, Hyperlipidemia, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Safety
Oral garcinia extract may result in elevated liver enzymes and signs of liver toxicity when taken for one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources11 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Athletic performance
2 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — (-)-Hydroxycitric acid ingestion increases fat utilization during exercise in untrained women2003
In untrained women, 250 mg/day hydroxycitric acid (HCA) for 5 days tended to lower respiratory exchange ratio and increase fat oxidation during submaximal cycling versus placebo.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Short-term (-)-hydroxycitrate ingestion increases fat oxidation during exercise in athletes2002
In athletes given 250 mg/day HCA for 5 days, fat oxidation increased and carbohydrate oxidation decreased during exercise at 60–80% VO2max versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Hyperlipidemia
2 references3.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — A clinical and computational study on anti-obesity effects of hydroxycitric acid2019
In a clinical study of 100 obese adults (ages 20–45) over 8 weeks, HCA supplementation reduced body weight, skinfold measurements, and serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — Does Glycine max leaves or Garcinia Cambogia promote weight-loss or lower plasma cholesterol in overweight individuals: a randomized control trial2011
In a 10-week RCT of 86 overweight adults (ages 20–50), 2 g/day Glycine max leaf extract or Garcinia cambogia extract did not significantly outperform placebo for weight loss or lipid changes.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — The effect of hydroxy citric acid supplementation with calorie-restricted diet on metabolic, atherogenic and inflammatory biomarkers in women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled clinical trial2022
In an 8-week RCT of obese women with NAFLD, hydroxycitric acid plus calorie restriction improved metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers versus calorie restriction alone.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
6 references6.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Effect of Garcinia cambogia supplement on obesity indices: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis2020
A dose-response meta-analysis of 8 RCTs (530 subjects) found Garcinia cambogia supplementation significantly reduced body weight by 1.34 kg versus placebo.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Long-term effects of Garcinia cambogia/Glucomannan on weight loss in people with obesity, PLIN4, FTO and Trp64Arg polymorphisms2018
In a 6-month non-randomized controlled trial of 214 overweight adults, combined Garcinia cambogia and glucomannan (500 mg twice daily) reduced weight, fat mass, and metabolic markers versus baseline.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Hypolipemic effect of Garcinia cambogia in obese women2014
In a 60-day RCT of obese women (ages 25–60), 2.4 g/day Garcinia cambogia extract (50% HCA) with dietary control improved weight, lipids, and adipokines versus placebo.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss2004
In an 8-week double-blind RCT of 60 moderately obese adults, HCA-SX (4,667 mg/day) with or without niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema extract reduced body weight and appetite versus placebo.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Effects of (-)-hydroxycitric acid on appetitive variables2000
In a 12-week double-blind RCT of 89 mildly overweight women on 5,020-kJ diets, 2.4 g/day Garcinia cambogia (1.2 g HCA) produced greater weight loss (3.7 vs 2.4 kg) but did not suppress appetite measures versus placebo.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trial1998
In a 12-week double-blind RCT of overweight adults, 1,500 mg/day hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia cambogia did not produce greater fat or body weight loss than placebo.