Thomas J. Wheeler

Hydroxycitrate as a Weight-Loss Ingredient
November 30, 1999 by

By Thomas J. Wheeler, PhDHydroxycitrate [(-)hydroxycitric acid, HCA], is a popular component of over-the-counter weight-loss formulations, where it is marketed under the names Citrin (Sabinsa Corp.) and CitriMax (InterHealth Co.) and appears in products such as the No-Diet Diet , Bio-Max 3000, PhytriMax, Lite Bites , Garcinia Trim-Plus, Garcinia-Max Diet System, Citrilite, Citrichrome, Lipotrol, MicroSlim, Body Busters, and Super Prolean Mega Fat Burner. Hydroxycitrate is found in high concentrations in Garcinia cambogia (a plant from India), as well as two other plants of the genus Garcinia, and these plants are used for commercial preparations of the compound. Other names applied to these plants include “brindall berry” and “Malabar Tamarind” (though strictly the latter refers to a much different species). The reputed effects of hydroxycitrate are …