France has issued a warning against dietary supplements containing Garcinia cambogia, a tropical plant used in weight loss products, after reports of rare but serious side effects, including one death.
Garcinia cambogia, also known as Garcinia gummi-gutta or Malabar tamarind, is native to India and Southeast Asia. Its fruit resembles a small pumpkin. Extracts from the plant are marketed worldwide in supplements claiming to suppress appetite and aid in weight loss, though these claims lack strong scientific backing.
Following an investigation into the death of a person who used a Garcinia-based supplement, France’s food safety agency, ANSES, strongly advised against using the plant. The agency reviewed other side effects reported globally, including incidents in the United States.
Despite being banned for medicinal use in France since 2012, Garcinia cambogia continues to appear in over 340 dietary supplements, many of which are sold online. ANSES reported 38 cases of serious side effects linked to the plant between 2009 and March of last year, including liver, pancreas, heart, muscle, and mental health issues.
The agency noted that individuals with a history of psychiatric disorders, pancreatitis, hepatitis, diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure are at greater risk. People taking medications like antidepressants, antiretrovirals, or those affecting the liver may also experience negative effects.
In 2019, a 71-year-old woman in France died of acute hepatitis after taking a Garcinia-based supplement called Slim Metabol while on blood pressure medication. ANSES concluded her death was “very likely” caused by the supplement, which remains available for sale.
However, even people without previous health conditions are at risk. Aymeric Dopter, head of ANSES’ nutrition risk assessment unit, described the case of a 32-year-old woman who developed myocarditis and required a heart transplant after using the supplement.
Dopter emphasized that while some users may report no problems, the risks highlighted by these rare cases are significant. People simply trying to lose weight ended up with serious health issues or even death,” he said. “It’s not worth the risk.”
The European Food Safety Agency is currently evaluating the safety of products containing Garcinia cambogia and its active ingredient, hydroxycitric acid, which is often included in weight loss supplements.
ANSES has called for harmonization across the European Union regarding the plants authorized for use in food supplements.
