Products tested in 2013 and 2024
+— 22 sources
In addition the results of its expert testing, ConsumerLab uses only high-quality, evidence based, information sources. These sources include peer-reviewed studies and information from agencies such as the FDA and USDA, and the National Academy of Medicine. On evolving topics, studies from pre-print journals may be sourced. All of our content is reviewed by medical doctors and doctoral-level experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. We continually update and medically review our information to keep our content trustworthy, accurate, and reliable. The following sources are referenced in this article:
- PDF version
- Adiga, Kidney Week 2019 Abstract SA-PO280
- Badmaev, JAMA 1999
- Chung, Nature 2016
- Fan, Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020
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- Westerterp-Plantenga, Int J Obesity 2002
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Alphabetical list of Garcinia (HCA) supplement brands compared in this review
Absolute Garcinia Cambogia
Bio Nutrition Garcinia Cambogia
Futurebiotics Garcinia Cambogia
Genesis Today Garcinia Cambogia
Healthy Clip Pure Garcinia Rapid
Labrada Nutrition Garcinia Cambogia
Miracle Garcinia Cambogia
Molecular Research Labs Pure Garcinia Cambogia
NutriGold Garcinia Cambogia Gold
Nutritional Sciences Garcinia Lean
Pure Health Garcinia Camboigia
Puritan's Pride Super Citrimax
Vitamin Shoppe Garcinia Cambogia Extract
Vitamin World Super Citrimax
Garcinia cambogia extracts are popular weight loss supplements, but few products on the market actually provide the amounts of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) typically used in clinical trials and most don't even contain the amount of HCA listed on their labels.
Among 13 Garcinia cambogia supplements which ConsumerLab.com selected for review, seven contained only 14% to 81% of the listed amount of HCA, a plant compound believed to be important to Garcinia's biological effects. Even among products which contained what was listed, the amount of HCA in a suggested daily serving ranged from as little as 250 mg to 3,150 mg of HCA, while the dose typically used in clinical studies is 900 mg to 1,500 mg of HCA. Two of the products which failed testing provided less than 100 mg of HCA per day! Unlike OTC products and prescription medications, where dosing must be approved by the FDA, dietary supplement companies set their own suggested serving levels, which may or may not correspond to what has been shown to work.
Among the six products which passed testing, the cost to obtain an equivalent amount (1,500 mg) of HCA ranged was as low as just 74 cents, but among products which did not contain what they claimed, this cost was as much as $21.41 based the amounts of HCA actually found. You can use this information to find the best Garcinia cambogia supplement at the lowest cost and avoid getting ripped-off.
You must be a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full test results for Garcinia cambogia supplements along with ConsumerLab.com's recommendations and quality ratings. You will get results for 13 Garcinia cambogia supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com and for four others which passed our voluntary Quality Certification Testing. You'll also get information about a product similar to one that passed testing but which is sold under a different name.
In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:
- Which Garcinia cambogia supplements failed testing and which passed
- The evidence for and against Garcinia for weight loss
- How Garcinia supplements compare on ingredients, dosage, amounts of HCA, and cost
- Dosage used for weight loss and the best way to take Garcinia
- Concerns, cautions, drug interactions, and potential side-effects of Garcinia cambogia supplements -- including possible mania in predisposed individuals and toxicity when used with antidepressant drugs
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