To the Editor: In their study evaluating the
weight-loss potential of (−)hydroxycitric acid (HCA) derived from Garcinia cambogia, Dr Heymsfield and colleagues1 cite our HCA work. We wish to give a counterpoint
to the conclusion expressed by the authors.
Based on their single clinical study, Heymsfield et al state that "These
observations ... do not support a role as currently prescribed for the widely
used herb G cambogia as a facilitator of weight loss."
Aside from this strong statement, which contradicts the positive results reported
in several earlier HCA clinical studies, the design of the trial indicates
that the authors took little advantage of previously reported experiences
involving HCA.2-4
In their own preclinical research, they report a prerequisite that suggests
for HCA to effectively inhibit fat formation and body weight it needs to be
administered with a simple carbohydrate-rich (lipogenic) diet.5