Though there are quite a few proven benefits as far as Garcinia Cambogia is concerned, many people are apprehensive in using it.

This is because there are some unconfirmed reports about the side effects caused by Garcinia Cambogia.

Liver damage is often mentioned as one of the possible side effects of this substance.

So can Garcinia Cambogia be bad for your liver?  The answer is yes. There are strong reasons to believe that there could be a direct relation between liver damage and long term usage of Garcinia cambogia and other such supplements.

But, the problems associated with the liver are few and far between as far as garcinia cambogia is concerned.

So, what is the way forward? Should Garcinia Cambogia be completely stopped? No, stopping it completely may not be the answer.

On the whole, there is no denying the fact that Garcinia Cambogia is quite safe barring a few side effects.

Most of the side effects are temporary in nature and they subside within a few days.

In next few lines, we would explore how does Garcinia Cambogia affect your liver?

Garcinia Cambogia & Liver

Like many food supplements, Garcinia Cambogia is considered to be effective for those who are keen on reducing obesity and also for treating overweight problems.

However, at the same time, it does carry the risk of side-effects. It could vary from person to person.

In most cases, the side effects are mild in nature.

These include nausea, stomach and digestive disorders, headache, dizziness, and also some instances dry mouth and lack of appetite.

In some cases, there are people who also suffer from liver problems.

There are a few studies that do point out possible problems as far as liver functions are concerned.

Hence, if there are people who are regularly into drinking or those who are reasonably addicted to alcohol must certainly exercise care and caution when using Garcinia Cambogia.

How Does Garcinia Cambogia Affect The Liver – What Studies Say?

While there is a real need to fight obesity, it can be challenging from the practical standpoint.

Garcinia cambogia is certainly a popular weight loss supplement.

It is known to contain the active ingredient HCA or Hydroxycitric acid (HCA).

It is known to be useful in efficient fat metabolism and thereby helping in weight loss, especially for those who are suffering from chronic or even morbid obesity.

However, on the flip side, HCA is known to cause hepatotoxicity and some instances of hepatic failure have been reported.

We are presenting below a case of acute hepatitis which might have been caused by indiscriminate and rash use of Garcinia cambogia extract.

The functioning of the liver improved once the patient was taken off garcinia cambogia.

When the patient was again put back on Garcinia cambogia, the hepatic problem appeared again.

She went through many tests covering liver toxicity and the enzyme levels of some vital ones, were enhanced.

Further, she also was screened for various viral attacks which center round the liver. Each and every known test for screening of such viral attacks was negative.

The doctors were a bit perplexed and then they decided to test the herbal supplement that she was on for managing her chronic obesity and overweight problems.

The results proved that she was on two capsules of the purest form of Garcinia cambogia (1400 mg x twice a day). She was on it for around a month.

She was asked to stop the supplement temporarily. Within a week or so, her entire critical liver enzyme levels came back to normal.

Ironically, she again repeated her visit six months later again complaining of the same problem. It was found out that she went back to her Garcinia cambogia supplements.

Hence, in this particular case there are reasons to believe that garcinia cambogia could be the reason.

Does Garcinia Cambogia Damage Your Liver?

This is a bit exaggerated and it would not be wrong to suggest that the instances of severe liver damage are extremely rare.

Yes, the above was a case of liver toxicity and it got resolved the moment the patient was taken off the supplement.

Hence, it is quite obvious that Garcinia cambogia does not leave behind any permanent damage to the liver.

Be Aware Of Garcinia Cambogia Side Effects

Before passing a judgment on the safety of Garcinia cambogia, there are a few points that we need to keep in mind.

Like all other naturally occurring supplements, Garcinia cambogia also has a few side effects. You should be aware of the common side effects and some rare side effects.

The recommended daily dosage is minimal and at this dosage, even for long terms users, there should not be much of a problem.

However, there are reasons to believe that it could be damaging for all those who may have had a history of hepatic illness, fatty liver and related problems before.

For example, if a person has suffered from hepatitis, then it would be advisable for him or her to stay away from Garcinia cambogia.

If they wish to start on it, they should take doctor’s opinion and then decide as to whether it is safe or not.

What Are Other Possible Garcinia Cambogia Side Effects?

Let us look at the possible side effects of Garcinia cambogia. We had glossed over a few of them in the beginning of the article.

Garcinia cambogia can causes headache:

This is one of the most common side effects of as far as Garcinia cambogia is concerned.

It occurs to a majority of the users as the body tries to adjust to the changing metabolic functioning.

However, the pain can be managed quite easily by over the counter medications and it should subside within a few days.

Garcinia cambogia can cause dry mouth:

A few people complain of dry mouth and this could perhaps be attributed to mild to moderate dehydration caused again by metabolic functioning.

Garcinia cambogia can cause increased blood pressure:

This could be a cause of concern for all those who already are suffering from hypertension and increased blood pressure levels.

Hence, this is an area where we need to be careful about the use of Garcinia cambogia.

Garcinia cambogia can cause mood swings:

There are a few instances, where we have come across users of Garcinia cambogia complaining about mood swings.

But these are very rare and the patients more often than not get back to their normal moods within a few days.

A Few Words Of Caution

Taking the above finding into consideration and also taking in to account the positive feedback about garcinia cambogia from thousands of other users, there are a few things that one might like to put in perspective.

It would not be a bad idea to exercise some caution and care when using garcinia cambogia based supplement for managing overweight and obesity problems.

Patients who have a previous history of liver injury should ensure that all the ingredients that are being ingested as supplements should be carefully examined.

This should include the supplements that have been used recently.

These evaluations could play a big role in finding out more about the etymology of these supplements, especially when they are taken on a long-term basis.

Those who are into severe diet restrictions as a part of their weight management schedule should certainly exercise caution when they are on such supplements.

Fasting does have a direct role to play in liver damage and this point should never be overlooked.

Some Related Questions

Is Garcinia cambogia harmful?

No, it is not. It has been used for ages and perhaps centuries. It all depends on the overall health condition of the end-user and the pre-existing diseases or health conditions he or she might be suffering from.

How to identify the best Garcinia cambogia?

It would always be advisable to go for organically sources garcinia cambogia. It should be gluten free, dairy product free and soy free. You can find best Garcinia Cambogia brands here.

Where to buy Garcinia cambogia?

Be sure about the manufacturers, their overall experience and other such attributes. Never compromise on quality in co-relation to cost. You can find some of the best Garcinia Cambogia brands online. Top Garcinia Cambogia brands are listed here.

Three Best Brands Of Garcinia Cambogia

If you look around the market place, you certainly will come across dozens of garcinia cambogia supplements.
We will look at a few of them based on inputs and reviews from Amazon.com

1. 4 Garcinia Cambogia Extract: This is considered to be a 100% pure garcinia cambogia supplement and comes in a pack of  four.It is made from the best of organic fruit.
2.  Herbal Youth 100% pure garcinia cambogia extract pill 95%. It seemingly has the highest concentration of   hydroxyl citric acid. It is known to be a safe way to diet without compromising health and safety.
3. Am I Slim garcinia cambogia – It is a soy free product made from high quality garcinia cambogia. It is known to reduce the levels of harmful cholesterol. It also is certified to be gluten free, vegan and dairy free.

The Final Word

However, there is no denying the fact that the toxicity of garcinia cambogia and other supplements have not been proved beyond doubt.

There is a need to do a lot more in terms of research and patient evaluation. Till such time, it would be better to use these supplements carefully.

The safest way forward would be to use it for a fortnight or so, have the vital parameters of the liver checked and then decide whether it is safe to continue.

But if one goes by the instances of direct relation of GC and liver damage, it may not be right to apportion all blame on garcinia cambogia.

There could be some pre-existing hepatic conditions that could be the main reason for a spike in hepatic mal functioning.