The side effects of hydroxycitric acid are headache, digestive tract discomfort and nausea when used short term.
Hydroxycitric acid is considered safe for most people when they take it for 12 weeks or less.
Hydroxycitric acid is a derivative of citric acid that is found in a variety of tropical plants including Garcinia cambogia and Hibiscus sabdariffa.
There are four isomers, - and-hydroxycitric acid, and- and-allo-hydroxycitric acid.
The-hydroxycitric acid isomer is the one found in Garcinia.
Hydroxycitrate is a structural analog of citrate, widely available as an over-the-counter supplement for weight reduction.
In vitro studies show hydroxycitrate has the capacity to complex calcium equivalent to that of citrate and that it is an effective inhibitor of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystallization.
Research indicates that HCA suppresses appetite and induces weight loss.
However, a double-blind trial found that people who took 1,500 mg per day of HCA while eating a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks lost no more weight than those taking a placebo.
Hydroxycitrate efficiently dissolves calcium oxalate stones in Drosophila renal tubules ex vivo.
Live images of renal stone dissolution in intact Malpighian tubules treated with HCA solutions ex vivo at different time points (A-F).
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a derivative of citric acid, is found primarily in a small, sweet, purple fruit called the Malabar tamarind or, as it is most commonly called, Garcinia cambogia.
In vitro and in vivo studies show that HCA inhibits the actions of citrate cleavage enzyme, suppresses de novo fatty acid synthesis, increases rates of hepatic glycogen synthesis, and decreases body weight gain.