Garcinia Cambogia: How safe is America's latest weight loss supplement craze?

Garcinia cambogia and GC Select, the newest weight loss "wonder" that's got Americans seeking to shed some extra kilos buying in bulk, may have side effects that the manufacturing company isn't telling dieters.

The gambooge fruit, famously known as the Malabar tamarind, ripens to a yellow or reddish fruit about the size of an apple, but with a more distinctive pumpkin shape.

Weigt loss supplements boasting extracts from the gambooge fruit are flying off shelves since 2013 but skeptics continue to doubt its effectivity, claiming this could be just another weight loss scam.

Previously featured on the Dr. Oz show, Garcinia cambogia-containing supplements claim to produce instant success for dieters, which skyrocketed the fruit's popularity almost overnight.

The product, when combined with Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), was described as a "revolutionary fat buster" and "might be the most exciting breakthrough in natural weight loss to date," according to Dr. Oz.

Despite claims of "studies" proving success of Garcinia cambogia, the Food and Drug Administration does not legally recognize HCA as safe for intake. The government agency is, however, more lax when substances are passed off as nutritional supplements, as these do not fall under the same burden of proof as pharmaceuticals. Supplement makers need only to make products safe for consumption and label them correctly.

The FDA issued an official warning in 2009 after receiving more than 20 complaints of severe reactions from people who used supplements containing Garcinia cambogia extract, including severe liver damage from people taking Hydroxycut. Aside from Garcinia cambogia extract, Hydroxycut also contained Gymnema sylvestre extract and chromium polynicotinate, which are also notorious substances that cause liver damage.

As with other supplements, Garcinia cambogia has its own list of side effects that could do more harm than actual good. The substance lowers blood sugar and interrupt diabetes treatment. It is also contraindicated for pregnant women, women who breastfeed as well as Alzheimer's and dementia patients. 

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