Skip to content
Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Garcinia

Garcinia is a tropical fruit whose rind is rich in hydroxycitric acid, a compound thought to influence how the body makes fat. People mostly look at it for weight loss, but the evidence is very limited, and research in 89 people found no clear difference in appetite. Those studies were small, so they leave the question open rather than settling it.

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
4
Outcomes
18
Graded outcomes
0004

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

4 conditions

Weight Loss & Maintenance

Weight Loss & Maintenance: outcomes studied for Garcinia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Apolipoprotein B

No effect

NoneNo effect86 people
Appetite

No effect

NoneNo effect89 people
WeightImproves (the measure goes down)2 studies310 people

Studies that measured weight

Food IntakeChanges; see studies1 study86 people

Studies that measured food intake

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)86 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)86 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)86 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)86 people

Low Testosterone

Low Testosterone: outcomes studied for Garcinia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Estrogen

No effect

NoneNo effect44 people
TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)1 study44 people

Studies that measured testosterone

Dyslipidemia

  • Apolipoprotein B
  • Weight: improves
  • Food Intake: changes; see studies
Dyslipidemia: outcomes studied for Garcinia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Apolipoprotein B

No effect

NoneNo effect86 people
WeightImproves (the measure goes down)2 studies86 people

Studies that measured weight

Food IntakeChanges; see studies1 study86 people

Studies that measured food intake

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)86 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)86 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)86 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)86 people

Obesity

  • Weight: improves
Obesity: outcomes studied for Garcinia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
WeightImproves (the measure goes down)2 studies135 people

Studies that measured weight

Key findings

  • Apolipoprotein BWeight Loss & Maintenance
  • AppetiteWeight Loss & Maintenance
  • EstrogenLow Testosterone

Shop Garcinia

Third-party tested Garcinia products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

Links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Fullscript asks for a free account before it shows its catalog and prices. Full disclosure

Studies cited

4 studies from PubMed

  1. Does Glycine max leaves or Garcinia Cambogia promote weight-loss or lower plasma cholesterol in overweight individuals: a randomized control trialNutr J · PMID 21936892
  2. Effects of (-)-hydroxycitric acid on appetitive variablesPhysiol Behav · PMID 11134690
  3. Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trialJAMA · PMID 9820262
  4. Effects of Garcinia cambogia extract on serum sex hormones in overweight subjectsFitoterapia · PMID 18316163