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Garcinia

Also known as: Gambooge, Pazham Puzhi, Bitter Kola, Malabar Tamarind, (-)-Hydroxycitric Acid, HCA, Hydroxycitric Acid, Garcinia Cambogia

Overview

Garcinia Cambogia is a fruit that is known to enhance the culinary experience of food, and enhances satiety from a meal (possibly by enhancing the flavor experience). Its usage as a fat burner does not appear to extend to humans. Garcinia Cambogia (Malabar Tamarind) is a small fruit that has some traditional usage to enhance the culinary experience of a meal, but beyond that has limited medicinal usage. It is a very good source of hydroxycitric acids (structurally related to citric acid, a sour flavorant) and one of the isomers, known as (-)-Hydroxycitric acid, is thought to help in weight control.

Benefits

The mechanism of action is inhibiting an enzyme called Citric acid lysase which is required in the synthesis of fatty acids, known as de novo lipogenesis. At least in rats, evidence of suppressed de novo lipogenesis has been noted and oral consumption of (-)-Hydroxycitric acid appears to reliably reduce food intake and body weight (the latter to a degree where food intake cannot explain all the observed effects). Studies in humans, for the most part, fail to replicate this; this may be related to less actual activity of de novo lipogenesis in humans and a much higher level in rats. Some isolated studies do note weight loss, but it appears to be quite variable and unreliable. Many studies also do report subjective appetite decrease, but tend to record dropout rates (how often people leave the study due to being unable to maintain the diet protocol) rather than food intake; even then the benefits are still unreliable and sometimes not present. Although there is some limited potential for (-)-Hydroxycitric acid as a weight loss aid, the magnitude of effect is quite low (up to 2kg over 3 months) and the benefit is unreliable; making it hard to recommend this compound as a fat burner or anti-obesity agent.

How it works

Garcinia is most often used for Fat Loss. The Examine Database covers Weight Loss & Maintenance, Low Testosterone, and 2 other conditions and goals.

Side effects

Standard dosing of Garcinia Cambogia and its bioactive, (-)-Hydroxycitric acid, is 500mg of (-)-Hydroxycitric acid taken 30-60 minutes prior to a meal and usually taken at up to three different meals daily. It is unsure if this is the ideal dose since human studies usually fail to find a benefit with any dosage.

Dosage

Garcinia should not be confused with: Hoodia gordonii (another ineffective appetite suppressant).

FAQs

What are the other names for Garcinia?

Note that Garcinia is also known as: Gambooge, Pazham Puzhi, Bitter Kola, Malabar Tamarind, (-)-Hydroxycitric Acid, HCA, Hydroxycitric Acid, Garcinia Cambogia.

What is the standard dosage for Garcinia Cambogia?