To the Editor: According to Dr Heymsfield and
colleagues,1 "Garcinia
cambogia [HCA] failed to produce significant weight loss and fat mass
loss beyond that observed with a placebo"; "studies in humans are contradictory";
and ". . . at least 14 separate hydroxycitric acid–containing products
are presently sold over-the-counter to consumers."
The main active component in the herbal extract of Garcinia compound is HCA. The earliest research, conducted in the 1970s,
into the antiobesity effects of HCA was conducted by Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals.
Studies have shown the ability of HCA to inhibit the actions of citrate cleavage
enzyme, suppress fatty acid synthesis, increase hepatic glycogen synthesis,
suppress food intake, increase energy expenditure, curb appetite, reduce plasmatic
cholesterol levels, and inhibit fat synthesis from excess carbohydrate calories.2- 3 The properties of Garcinia extract have been confirmed by clinical trials published in
peer-reviewed literature.2- 4