TGA issues safety alert for Garcinia gummi-gutta in medicines

An ingredient, thought to help with weight loss, can cause some concerning symptoms.

An ingredient thought to help with weight loss and embedded in a range of medicines and herbal supplements could pose serious liver injury risks, Australia’s medicines watchdog has warned.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued a new safety alert for Garcinia gummi-gutta and hydroxycitric acid on Thursday, warning the ingredient, which comes from the Garcinia fruit rind, is linked to an increasing number of liver injuries.

“We have become aware of an increasing number of cases of liver injury reported in scientific literature, by consumers who had taken products containing Garcinia gummi-gutta/HCA,” the TGA said.

“Older literature reports mostly involved additional ingredients that may have contributed to the liver injury, but recently more cases have been published with Garcinia gummi-gutta, or Garcinia cambogia/HCA as the only suspected ingredient in the liver injury.

“Many of these cases were severe and required hospitalisation.

The Garcinia gummi-gutta fruit ingredient is found in a number of medicines and herbal supplements. Picture: Instagram

“Of particular concern, five cases resulted in liver transplantation, one of which was an Australian case.

“We are also aware of several cases of liver injury reported to regulators in other countries.

“We have also received a small number of reports of possible liver-injury involving Garcinia ingredients.”

Following an investigation into the ingredient, the TGA concluded there was a rare risk of liver injury from taking Garcinia gummi-gutta or HCA.

“Liver injury concerns also apply to the other HCA-containing ingredients.”

Medicines and herbal supplements containing Garcinia gummi-gutta and other HCA-ingredients can be bought in Australian supermarkets, health food shops and pharmacies without a prescription and without the advice of a health professional, the TGA added.

“There are currently over 50 listed medicines included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods that contain one or more of these ingredients,” the TGA said.

“If you take medicines or herbal supplements containing Garcinia-related ingredients, you should be aware of the possible risk for liver injury.

“While liver injury is a rare side effect, it can be severe.”

Consumers with yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite or stomach or abdominal pain are advised to immediately cease using products containing Garcinia-related ingredients.

“As a precaution, if you currently have or have had liver problems, you should avoid medicines and herbal supplements containing Garcinia-related ingredients,” the TGA said.

You should immediately stop taking medicines or herbal supplements containing these ingredients and seek medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms:

-yellowing of the skin or eyes

-dark urine

-nausea

-vomiting

-unusual tiredness

-weakness

-stomach or abdominal pain

-loss of appetite.