NMU 281 – Significant Weight-Loss Effect Shown with HCA Supplementation

Nutrition/Natural Medicine Update No 281 (March 28, 2023)

with Dr. James Meschino

Topic: Significant Weight-Loss Effect Shown with HCA Supplementation

Source: Journal – Royal Society of Chemistry (2019)

Studies over the years have shown that HCA can be an effective natural weight loss supplement. What is HCA you ask? It stands for hydroxycitric acid, which is natural constituent of a fruit that grows in Southeast Asia known as the Garcinia Cambogia fruit. Studies have shown that HCA supplementation blocks the conversion of carbohydrates into fat (inhibits the ATP citrate lyase enzyme), acts as an appetite suppressant and has other effects on metabolism that favor loss of excess body fat. The other good news is that HCA is not a stimulate, so it doesn’t cause palpitations, high blood pressure or insomnia.

A 2019 study published in the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry tested the weight loss effects of HCA supplementation on 100 obese individuals for a period of three months. Subjects took two, 600 mg capsules of HCA per day during the trial period. The results showed that after three months the patients experienced a significant reduction in body fat, and body mass index in this open-label study. Supplementation with HCA also helped reduce blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which are important heart disease risk factors often seen in overweight and type 2 diabetic subjects. HCA supplementation also helped these subjects gain some lean mass, which speeds up metabolism and helps guard against age-related muscle wasting (atrophy).

The 2019 article in the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry also provides a comprehensive review all the past research on HCA in case this is a subject of interest to you. I personally believe that HCA supplements work best when they also contain chromium and ECGC from decaffeinated green tea extract. These three natural compounds work synergistically to help shed excess body fat, and some studies show they can also improve blood sugar (glucose), cholesterol and triglyceride levels. I have seen the supplement combination of HCA, chromium and EGCG (from decaffeinated green tea extract) help a number of overweight individuals and improve their glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

I have included the 2019 study and review article on HCA in the text below.

Reference:

Tomar M et al. A clinical and computational study on anti-obesity effects of hydroxycitric acid. Journal Royal Society of Chemistry. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2019/ra/c9ra01345h

Eat Smart, Live Well, Look Great,
Dr. Meschino