Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the risk associated with the consumption of food supplements that contain Garcinia gummi-gutta as an ingredient

* This record is given in both English and Spanish.

Garcinia or Malabar tamarind (Garcinia gummi-gutta) has traditionally been used as flavouring and has been marketed as a food supplement for decreasing appetite and weight loss. The rind or pericarp of the garcinia fruit contains α,β-dihydroxy-tricarboxylic acid or hydroxycitric acid (HCA) as an active ingredient, which represents 20-30 % of the dry weight and is responsable for anti-obesity properties attributed to it.

Several authors have linked the consumption of supplements containing Garcinia gummi-gutta or hydroxycitric acid to side effects such as hepatotoxicity, nephropathy, cardiovascular toxicity, hypomania or serotonin toxicity and psychosis.

The Scientific Committee deems it necessary for health professionals, researchers and citizens to report the serious adverse effects of food supplements to the corresponding institutions. Furthermore, regulatory authorities must develop post-marketing monitoring systems and enforce European Union legislation requiring food business operators to ensure that the food they sell is safe.

There is sufficient clinical evidence to establish a causal association between the consumption of garcinia and the duration of treatment, and the development of acute liver injury, with a clear improvement in liver function after removing the garcinia food supplement.

The progress of patients with depression or occasional episodes of hypomania that consume garcinia should be monitored, as it may worsen their situation. An improvement of manic symptoms has been observed following the removal of the garcinia supplement.

More studies are needed to support the effectiveness and long-term benefits or adverse effects of garcinia supplements in over weight treatment.