No evidence demonstrating hepatotoxicity associated with hydroxycitric acid

Although a number of cases of hepatotoxicity are associated with the use of Hydroxycut weight management products, it has been alleged that their effects are primarily due to the presence of hydroxycitric acid (HCA, as Super CitriMax) in the formulations. However, while these products contain up to 20 different ingredients, some do not contain HCA. Case studies reported to date have not considered in depth the literature on the numerous animal and human studies that have been conducted on the safety and effi cacy of HCA. No HCA-associated hepatotoxicity or treatment-related adverse effects have been reported in these studies, and thus it is premature to make the assumptions presented in the recent case studies regarding Hydroxycut. If it is established in well controlled studies that the use of these formulations with and/or without HCA can result in the occurrence or progression of hepatotoxicity, additional studies should be conducted to characterize the causative factor(s).

Hydroxycitric acid does not promote inflammation or liver toxicity

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.

Hydroxycitric acid ameliorates inflammation and oxidative stress in mouse models of multiple sclerosis

Hydroxycitric acid （HCA） is derived primarily from the Garcinia plant and is widely used for its anti-in- flammatory effects. Multiple sclerosis can cause an inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage. In this study, to validate the hypothesis that HCA exhibits therapeutic effects on multiple sclerosis, we established female C57BL/6 mouse models of multiple sclerosis, i.e., experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, using Complete Freund＇s Adjuvant （CFA） emulsion containing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein （35-55）. Treatment with HCA at 2 g/kg/d for 3 weeks obviously improved the symptoms of nerve injury of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice, decreased serum interleulin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde levels, and increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione reduc- tase activities. These findings suggest that HCA exhibits neuroprotective effects on multiple sclerosis-caused nerve injury through ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress.

Liver injury and dietary supplements:Does hydroxycitric acid trigger hepatotoxicity?

Rising rates of obesity has increased the global use of herbal supplements intended to control weight.However,taking these preparations without appropriate medical supervision could increase the risk of manifestation of side effects,especially at the hepatic level.In literature,different cases of acute liver injury consequent to the use of food supplements containing Garcinia cambogia and hydroxycitric acid are reported.This letter aims to review the most recent literature that analysed the herb-induced liver disease due to the use of hydroxycitric acid,from the first alert coming from the European Food and Drug Administration in 2009,to the last recent European food alerts from 2020 to 2021.It is noteworthy that in some cases it demonstrated the relationship between hydroxycitric acid and hepatotoxicity.Therefore,there is a need to draw more attention to the relationship between a safe use and a more awareness in the intake of these supplements,to preserve the safety of the consumers who increasingly purchase food supplements,products that have only nutritive properties and are never curative.