Hydroxycitrate acid, found in plants such as Garcinia cambogia, is used in weight loss supplements. Modified isomers have shown weight loss benefits, but the acid can cause serious side effects, including liver damage and death. Some weight loss websites claim it is safe, but caution should be taken. Certain products containing the acid have been banned by the FDA, including Hydroxycut.
Hydroxycitrate acid, also known as hydroxycitric acid (HCA), is a derivative of citric acid found in plants. Two of the most common are Hibiscus subdariffa and Garcinia cambogia. The Garcinina cambogia plant is a subtropical species found in Indonesia and India, and is also known as Brindall Berry and Malabar Tamarind. This plant is often used in Indian and Thai cooking as a seasoning. The human body does not require any amount of HCA to function properly.
The most popular commercial use of hydroxycitrate acid is as a component of weight loss supplements. Early clinical tests indicated that it might have an effect on lipid metabolism, which could limit the accumulation of body fat. Further testing later indicated that the natural form of the compound was of little or no use for weight loss.
However, modified isomers of hydroxycitrate acid have shown the ability to aid in weight loss. Hydroxycitrate acid is extremely similar to citric acid in chemical composition, and the human body treats HCA as if it were citric acid. Once in the body, HCA causes the liver to release excess glucose into the bloodstream, which, for many people, results in a feeling of fullness. Additionally, hydroxycitrate acid can suppress the function of enzymes that create fat from carbohydrates.
Using this acid can cause many serious side effects, including fatigue, vomiting, liver damage, and death. An April 2009 report in the World Journal of Gastroenterology listed HCA as a hepatoxin, meaning it can severely damage the liver. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted its own studies the same year and concluded that HCA was the cause of a number of health problems. As a result, certain products containing hydroxycitrate acid have been banned by the FDA.
The best known of these products was the popular weight loss formula known as Hydroxycut. In all, 14 Hydroxycut products were banned in the US due to reports of illness and one confirmed death. The product still exists in a new formulation, but without its most active ingredient, HCA.
Many weight loss websites still maintain that hydroxycitrate acid is safe for human use and does not cause side effects when taken properly. According to these sites, consuming this acid will cause the body to burn fat, rather than carbohydrates, for fuel. They also state that the substance is non-toxic. The drug is still sold as part of certain weight loss formulas, and should be taken with caution.
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