⚠ Regulatory caution
📰Read the full Garcinia Cambogia evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ HIGH RISK — see overview [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Garcinia/HCA is another Dr. Oz-promoted weight-loss supplement with marginal evidence: meta-analysis shows only 0.88 kg more than placebo over 12 weeks — clinically meaningless. The REAL concern: hepatotoxicity. Multiple liver failure cases (some requiring transplant) associated with Garcinia-containing products (Hydroxycut® FDA warning). The risk-benefit is terrible: negligible weight loss + liver failure risk. Mechanism (ATP citrate lyase inhibition) is real biochemistry but doesn't translate to meaningful fat loss [1].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
AVOID — hepatotoxicity concern + insufficient data [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Not recommended [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: See overview [1].
💊 With food: See overview [1].
🚫 Avoid: See overview for contraindications [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Various', 'see overview', 'See overview for forms and risks [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Key safety point ▼
Garcinia/HCA is another Dr. Oz-promoted weight-loss supplement with marginal evidence: meta-analysis shows only 0.88 kg more than placebo over 12 weeks — clinically meaningless. The REAL concern: hepatotoxicity. Multiple liver failure cases (some requiring transplant) associated with Garcinia-containing products (Hydroxycut® FDA warning). The risk-benefit is terrible: negligible weight loss + liver failure risk. Mechanism (ATP citrate lyase inhibition) is real biochemistry but doesn't translate to meaningful fat loss [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
See overview [1]. HIGH
Moderate
See overview [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
See overview [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Absolute contraindications
✕ Active liver disease — documented reports of serious hepatotoxicity
Relative
⚠ Concurrent statins or hepatotoxic drugs
⚠ Serotonergic drugs (SSRIs) — theoretical serotonin effect
⚠ Diabetes — additive glucose lowering
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — avoid
🚩 Red flags
● HIGH RISK — see overview for critical safety alerts [1]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Statins / Hepatotoxic drugs Major
Mechanism: Additive liver risk [1].
7 US supplement products
5
on-market products containing Garcinia Cambogia (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Garcinia Cambogia (5)
Click a brand to see its Garcinia Cambogia products.
8 Frequently paired with
9 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Garcinia Cambogia — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Sep 01]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/garcinia-cambogia/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Garcinia Cambogia — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/garcinia-cambogia/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: March 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Garcinia Cambogia — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/garcinia-cambogia/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG