Garcinia Cambogia and Weight Loss

Garcinia Cambogia is made from a plant known as gummy-gutta mostly used by Asian people in their dishes to give it a sour flavor

The fruit of this plant looks green and the outer layer contains a very huge amount of natural substance known as Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA). And this is the active substance extract that produces the weight loss effect.

Now, according to studies on animals and humans garcinia Cambodia inhibits the fat-producing enzymes known as Citrate Lyase making it impossible for the body to produce fat out of carbohydrates.

However other studies on rats show an increased level of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This means in theory will lead to reduced appetite and cravings. There are several studies on rats that proved that Garcinia Cambodia will be effective in weight loss. Nevertheless, it is said that what works on rats may not work on humans.

Let’s have more look at human studies, which were however referred to as randomized controlled trials which happen to be the current standard of scientific experiments in humans.

The study consists of 135 overweight persons which were grouped into two.

• Treatment group: 1 gram of Garcinia Cambogia Extract, 3 t, taken 30 times daily few minutes before meals.
• Placebo group: The other group had dummy pills (placebo).

Now the two groups were on a high-fiber, low-calorie diet

And below was the outcome of the 12-week study, which was also published in The Journal of the American Medical Association-A very respected scientific journal:

According to the result, both groups lose weight but those on placebo lose more weight than the ones on treatment.

The ones on Garcinia Cambogia extract lose about 3.2kt-7 pounds while those on placebo lose 4.1kg-9 pounds. The study experts also looked at the percentage of body fat lose by the group on treatment which was 1.6% whereas the ones on placebo lose 2.16%.

More studies

In yet another study carried out on 89 overweight females, the Garcinia Cambogia did result in 1.3kg (2.8pounds) more weight loss compared to those on placebo over a period of 12 weeks. However, found no difference in appetite between the two groups. (8)

Generally, 4 more studies were looked at. 2 out of the 4 showed weight loss of a small amount over a period of 8 weeks,(9, 10) while the other 2 showed no effect. (11, 12).

Therefore, sadly the weight loss effects seem to be inconsistent and weak.

A published review in the Journal of  Obesity in 2011 that looked at 12 clinical trials discovered that Garcinia Cambogia can reduce weight by about 0.88kg or 2 pounds, on average, over a period of several weeks. (13).

They sum up their conclusion thus:

“…Garcinia extracts/HCA can cause short-term weight loss. The magnitude of the effect is small, and the clinical relevance is uncertain.”

Personally, I think it may have a mild effect on some individuals but the overall assessment is that Garcia Cambogia is not likely to make that huge impact on weight loss.

But if you however still want to purchase Garcinia Cambogia you can do so on Amazon their various brands there.