Tag: Garcinia cambogia

Sales of the recalled product through the website www.swissclinic.no​​ have been halted, according to a warning on the authority Mattilsynet’s website.

Garcinia cambigia is toxic to the testicles because of its content of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) – a derivative of citric acid found in many tropical fruits.

According to the harmonised list of botanicals put forward by Belgium, Italy and France, BELFRIT, Garcinia cambigia is “OK”​ but levels of HAC “must be determined”. ​

The plant’s entry on the list referenced a 2005 study from the Japanese National Institute of Health and Nutrition​​ using rats, which suggested diets containing 102 millimoles of HCA per kilogram or more (778 and 1244 mg HCA per kg body weight per day, respectively) caused “potent testicular atrophy and toxicity”​.

This effect was not seen with diets containing 51 mmol HCA/kg or less (389 mg HCA per kg body weight per day).

The paper “tentatively”​ pointed to HCA as the cause of the negative health effect, but added: “This is the first published report of the testicular toxicity of HCA-containing Garcinia cambogia, and therefore, we do not currently know which of the constituents of this preparation is responsible for the toxicity.” ​

Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is a plant native to Southeast Asia used traditionally for its dried rind as a food preservative, flavouring agent and carminative but it is increasingly popular as a weight loss ingredient for supplements in developed countries.

Sales of the recalled product through the website www.swissclinic.no​​ have been halted, according to a warning on the authority Mattilsynet’s website.

Garcinia cambigia is toxic to the testicles because of its content of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) – a derivative of citric acid found in many tropical fruits.

According to the harmonised list of botanicals put forward by Belgium, Italy and France, BELFRIT, Garcinia cambigia is “OK”​ but levels of HAC “must be determined”. ​

The plant’s entry on the list referenced a 2005 study from the Japanese National Institute of Health and Nutrition​​ using rats, which suggested diets containing 102 millimoles of HCA per kilogram or more (778 and 1244 mg HCA per kg body weight per day, respectively) caused “potent testicular atrophy and toxicity”​.

This effect was not seen with diets containing 51 mmol HCA/kg or less (389 mg HCA per kg body weight per day).

The paper “tentatively”​ pointed to HCA as the cause of the negative health effect, but added: “This is the first published report of the testicular toxicity of HCA-containing Garcinia cambogia, and therefore, we do not currently know which of the constituents of this preparation is responsible for the toxicity.” ​

Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is a plant native to Southeast Asia used traditionally for its dried rind as a food preservative, flavouring agent and carminative but it is increasingly popular as a weight loss ingredient for supplements in developed countries.

Positive and greater weight losses were found in some studies, but this effect is suppressed when looking at all of the studies combined.

With respect to other health benefits from taking this supplement, the evidence to suggest it can improve blood cholesterol levels is lacking.

Most importantly, the product safety profile of Garcinia Cambogia has been adequately tested and there appear to be no issues.

Some complementary medicines have been found to contribute to improved health outcomes, through increased efficacy and cost-effectiveness. However, if there is to be a role for such complementary and alternative weight-loss products and medicines, we must build upon the evidence to investigate whether these increasingly popular products are a viable treatment option.

A recent Obesity Australia and Price Waterhouse Coopers report found obesity cost Australia A$8.6 billion in 2011-2012, with the indirect costs far higher. We must establish whether complementary medicines have a role to play in preventing and treating obesity. If we take no action to reduce obesity rates, an additional 2.4 million people will become obese at a cost of $87.7 billion over 10 years.