In Vitro and In Vivo Toxicity of Garcinia or Hydroxycitric Acid: A Review

Table 1

Summary of clinical studies conducted to date on the results and safety record of HCA. Only the subjects who manage to complete the trial is counted in the table below.

Duration	Mode of trial	Formulation	Results	Safety	Conclusion	Reference
8 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo control, 39 subjects	1500 mg G. cambogia + 300 μg chromium picolinate/day	No significant effect between groups	Itching around mouth in both treatment and placebo groups.	None toxic	[43]
8 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo control, 35 subjects	1500 mg G. cambogia before meal/day	No changes in blood glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glucose.	Headaches and nausea in both treatment (2) and placebo (1) groups	None toxic	[44]
4 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo control, 144 subjects	55 mg G. cambogia + 19 mg chromium + 240 mg chitosan/day	Treated group possessed significant weight loss, lower TC, LDL and higher HDL as compared to placebo	Headaches and nausea in both treatment (2) and placebo (1) groups	None toxic	[45]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 84 subjects	3000 mg G. cambogia (50% HCA)/day	No significant effect between groups	Intestinal disorders, headache, or upper airway symptoms in both treatment and placebo groups	None toxic	[46]
6 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 18 subjects	750 mg G. cambogia + 750 mg calcium + 750 mg guggulsterone + 750 mg L-tyrosine/day	No significant effect between groups	Not reported	—	[47]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 33 subjects	300 mg G. cambogia + 1200 mg Phaseolus vulgaris + 1200 mg inulin/day	Better weight lose in treated group	Not reported	—	[48]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 89 subjects	2400 mg G. cambogia/day	Better weight lose in treated group	Not reported	—	[49]
8 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-control, 82 moderate obsese subjects	2800 mg HCA; 4667 mg of HCA-SX in combination with niacin-bound chromium and standardized Gymnema sylvestre extract/day	Significant weight loss, reduction in BMI, increased fat oxidation, favorable lipid profile, reduction in circulating plasma leptin levels, increase in serum serotonin levels, and decreased appetite as determined by reductions in food intake were detected in HCA-SX treatment group, and to a greater extent the combination of the 3 ingredients	No serious adverse effects were detected, except several minor adverse effects such as leg cramps, heartburn, diarrhea, gas, increased appetite, headaches, stomach burn, and menstrual disorders	None toxic	[50]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 98 subjects	G. cambogia + kidney bean pods + chromium yeast	Better weight lose in treated group	More gastrointestinal symptoms in treated group.	None toxic	[51]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 44 subjects	1,667.3 mg of G. cambogia extract/day (1,000 mg HCA/day)	No significant effect on TG between treatment and placebo group. Answer to the concept of potential spermatogenesis impair [27]	No significant reproductive toxicity on serum testosterone, estrone, and estradiol levels, hematology, serum triacylglycerol, and serum clinical pathology parameters	None toxic	[52]
12 weeks	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 58 subjects	2400 mg G. cambogia + 1500 mg Amorphophallus konjac/day	No significant effect between groups	No significant difference between treatment and placebo groups	None toxic	[53]
2 weeks × 3 times	Parallel, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 21 subjects	500 mg HCA + 300 medium chain TG/day	No significant effect between groups	Not reported	—	[54]
8 weeks	Parallel, randomized, single blind, placebo control, 40 subjects	1000 mg of HCA/day	Reduction of visceral fat area and visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area	No significant difference in hematological parameters (white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets) and clinical chemistry parameters (SGPT, SGOT, c glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, insulin, acetoacetic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and total ketone bodies) between groups	None toxic	[55]
10 days	Cross-over, randomized, placebo control, 44 subjects	1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg G. cambogia/day		No significant different in hematology and clinical chemistry analysis before and after treatment no unusual electrocardiographic effects.	NOAEL > 4 g HCA	[56]
5 hours	Cross-over, randomized, double blind, placebo control, 20 subjects	extracts of, G. cambogia, green tea, caffeine, and yerba mate		No unusual electrocardiographic effects.		[57]
??	Cross-over, randomized, double blind, placebo control	5600 mg HCA/day	??	Yet to be published	??	[58]
2 weeks	Cross-over, randomized, single blind, placebo control, 24 subjects	900 mg HCA/day	Decreased energy intake	No adverse effect	None toxic	[59]