What is it?

Garcinia cambogia is an herbal medicine that is used for high cholesterol (blood fat) and weight loss.

Other names for Garcinia cambogia include: Malabar Tamarind, Hydroxycitric Acid, and HCA.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need more information about this medicine or if any information in this leaflet concerns you.

Before Using:

Tell your doctor if you

• are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement)
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
• are breast feeding
• have any other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease

Dosage:

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about how much Garcinia cambogia you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Garcinia cambogia. If you are using this medicine without instructions from your caregiver, follow the directions on the medicine bottle. Do not take more Garcinia cambogia or take it more often than what is written on the directions.

To store this medicine:

Keep all medicine locked up and away from children. Store medicine away from heat and direct light. Do not store your medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down and not work the way it should work. Throw away medicine that is out of date or that you do not need. Never share your medicine with others.

Warnings:

• Before taking Garcinia cambogia, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding

Side Effects:

Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects.

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing, or rash.

Other Side Effects:

This medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.

References:

1. Werbach MR & Murray MT: Botanical influences on Illness: a sourcebook of clinical research. Third Line Press, Tarzana, CA; 1994.

2. Brekhout TA, Havekes LM, Pearce NJ et al: The effect of HCA on the activity of the low-density-lipoprotein receptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Co-A reductase levels in the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Biochem J 15 1990;272(1):181-186.

3. Rao TN, Sakariah KK: Lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effect or (-)-hydroxycitric acid. Nutr Res 1988;8:209-212.

4. Sullivan AC, Triscari J, Spiegel JE: Metabolic regulation as a control for lipid disorder. II. Influence of (-)-hydroxycitrate on genetically and experimentally induced hypertriglyceridemia in the rat. Am J Clin Nutr 1977; 30(5):777-784.

5. Sullivan C, Triscari J: metabolic regulation as a control for lipid disorders. I. Influence of (-)-hydrocycitrate on experimentally induce obesity in the rodent. Am J Clin Nutr 1977;30(5):767-776.

6. Hamilton JB, Sullivan AC, Kritchevsky D: Hypolipidemeic activity of (-)-hydroxycitrate. Lipids 1977;12(1):1-9.

7. Sergio W: A natural food, the Malabar Tamarind, may be effective in the treatment of obesity. Med Hypotheses 1988;27(1):39-40.

8. Sener A, Malaisse WJ: Hexose metabolism in pancreatic islets. Effect of HCA upon fatty acid synthesis and insulin release in glucose-stimulated islets. Biochimie 1991;73(10): 1287-1290.

9. Beynen AC, Geelen MJ: effects of insulin and glucagon on fatty acid synthesis from acetate by hepatocytes incubated with (-)-hydroxycitrate. Endokrinlgie 1982;79(2):308-10.

10. Chee J, Romsos SR, Leveille GA: Influence of (-)-hydroxycitrate on lipogenesis in chickens and rats. J Nutr 1977;107(1):112-119.

11. Sullivan AC, Triscari J, Hamilton JG et al: Effect of (-)-hydroxycitrate upon the accumulation of lipid in the rat II. Appetite. Lipids 1974; 9(2):129-134.

12. Sullivan AC, Triscari J, Hamilton JG et al: Effect of (-)-hydroxycitrate upon the accumulation of lipid in the rat I. Lipogenesis. Lipids 1974; 9(2):121-128.

13. Schwarz JM, Chen TW & Linfoot P: Effect of Hydroxycitrate on hepatic de novo lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis and glucose production in obese hyperinsulinemic subjects (abstract). Circulation 1999; 100(18 suppl 1):I-196-I-197.

14. Heymsfield SB, Allison DB, Vasselli JR et al: Garcinia cambogia (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Potential Antiobesity Agent. JAMA 1998; 280(18):1596-1600.

15. Kriketos AD, Thompson HR, Green J et al: (-)-Hydroxycitric acid does not affect energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in adult males in a post-absorptive state. Int J Obes 1999; 23(8):867-873.

16. Girola M, De Bernardi M, Contos S et al: Dose effect in lipid-lowering activity of a new dietary integrator (chitosan, Garcinia cambogia extract and chrome). Acta Toxicol Ther 1996; 17(1):25-40.