Garcinia

Garcinia cambogia/Drug Interactions:

  • Oral hypoglycemic agentsOral hypoglycemic agents: Patients taking oral hypoglycemic agents are cautioned against the use of Garcinia cambogia due to the theoretical possibility of increasing the action of other hypoglycemic agents.
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins")HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins"): Taking HCA with statin medications may increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. An incidence of rhabdomyolysis was reported in a case report in a patient taking a weight-loss herbal medicine which contained 50% HCA (12).

    • Garcinia cambogia/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In theory, taking HCA with Antilipemic herbs and supplements may increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. An incidence of rhabdomyolysis was reported in a case report in a patient taking a weight-loss herbal medicine which contained 50% HCA (12).
  • Gymnema sylvestreGymnema sylvestre: The combination of HCA-SX with Gymnema sylvestre has been shown in one clinical trial to have increased effects on weight loss (1).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Patients taking oral hypoglycemic herbs and supplements are cautioned against the use of Garcinia cambogia due to the theoretical possibility of increasing the action of other hypoglycemic agents.
  • Niacin-bound chromiumNiacin-bound chromium: The combination of HCA-SX with niacin-bound chromium has been reported in one clinical trial to have increased effects on weight loss (1).

    • Garcinia cambogia/Food Interactions:

  • Lipogenic dietLipogenic diet: HCA was shown to be a potent inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase, which catalyzes the extramitochondrial cleavage of citrate to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA. The inhibition of this reaction limits the availability of acetyl-CoA units required for fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis during a lipogenic diet (9;8;10;11;7). Extensive animal studies indicated that HCA suppresses the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, and food intake (9). HCA has been suggested to increase fat metabolism, which may be associated with a decrease in glycogen utilization during exercise (10).

    • Garcinia cambogia/Lab Interactions:

  • Creatine kinaseCreatine kinase: Rhabdomyolysis was reported following the ingestion of weight-loss herbal medicine in an otherwise healthy 54 year-old woman (12). The patient suffered chest pain, and laboratory investigation showed rhabdomyolysis with peak serum creatine kinase of 1028 IU/L, which gradually decreased and normalized after the herbal medicine, was discontinued. The active ingredients of the herbal medicine were ma huang, guarana, chitosan, Gymnena sylvestre, Garcinia cambogia, and chromium. The elevation of creatine kinase indicates that muscle breakdown may be one of the mechanisms of weight loss with this preparation. The authors suggest measuring serum creatine kinase in patients using it.
  • Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR): Peak expiratory flow rate was increased in a RCT of 19 Nigerian males aged 17-25 years with consumption of 15 grams of Garcinia kola (4).