Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid, HCA)

Garcinia ranks among the top LiverTox entries for supplement-induced liver injury. Reported patterns include acute hepatocellular hepatitis 1–3 months after starting the supplement, cholestatic hepatitis, fulminant liver failure with transplantation and isolated fatalities. Women aged 30–50 are most often affected. Concomitant paracetamol, statins or alcohol increase risk. FDA pulled Hydroxycut in 2009 and updated the garcinia warning in multi-ingredient formulas in 2017. If you take garcinia and develop jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, right upper quadrant pain or marked weakness, stop the supplement immediately and seek medical help. This is not a «detox effect», this is acute hepatitis.

Garcinia is among the most heavily marketed weight-loss supplements. The large Onakpoya 2020 systematic review pooled 12 RCTs: average weight loss vs placebo was about 0.88 kg over 8–12 weeks, clinically insignificant and with high heterogeneity. EFSA rejected the corresponding health claim. The main risk is rare but severe liver injury: FDA pulled Hydroxycut from the market in 2009 after a cluster of hepatitis cases and issued a repeat warning in 2017. LiverTox 2023 describes cases of fulminant hepatic failure requiring transplantation and fatal outcomes. If you take garcinia and develop jaundice, dark urine, right upper quadrant pain, marked weakness or nausea, stop the supplement immediately and seek medical help.