Ingredient safety
Garcinia Cambogia and Your Liver: What SodaSlim Buyers Should Know
Garcinia cambogia is a fruit rind extract sold for weight. Its weight effect is small or absent: a 12-week trial of 1,500 mg HCA a day did no better than placebo. It is also linked to rare but severe liver injury. SodaSlim has about 65 mg HCA per capsule. Stop and call a doctor if you notice dark urine or yellow eyes.
Written by the Sodaslimbalance editorial teamUpdated · 9 min read
The basics
What is garcinia cambogia and HCA?
Garcinia cambogia is a small tropical fruit. Supplements use an extract of its rind, which is rich in hydroxycitric acid, or HCA.
HCA is the part marketers talk about. The theory is that it changes how the body handles fat and appetite. NCCIH says it is unclear whether garcinia products help with weight loss at all (NCCIH: garcinia cambogia).
SodaSlim lists "Garcinia Extract (Garcinia cambogia)(fruit)(50% HCA)" at 130 mg per capsule. Half of that is HCA, so each capsule gives about 65 mg.
Evidence
Does garcinia help with weight loss?
Not by much, if at all. In a 12-week trial of 135 adults, 3,000 mg of extract a day (1,500 mg of HCA) did no better than a placebo (NIH ODS: Garcinia cambogia/HCA).
A 2011 review pooled 9 trials. HCA users lost only about 0.88 kg (under 2 pounds) more than placebo users (Meta-analysis: garcinia/HCA (2011)). The authors called the effect small and its clinical value unclear.
| Source | Daily dose | Length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial described by NIH ODS | 3,000 mg extract (1,500 mg HCA) | 12 weeks | No better than placebo |
| 2011 meta-analysis, 9 trials pooled | Varied by trial | Up to 12 weeks | About 0.88 kg extra loss; "small" |
| SodaSlim, 1 capsule | 130 mg extract (about 65 mg HCA) | Not published | No trial published |
NCCIH puts the bigger picture plainly. Of the weight-loss supplements studied, none have been shown to be effective for weight loss (NCCIH: weight control).
Liver
Can garcinia cause liver damage?
It can, though rarely. LiverTox, the NIH liver injury database, links garcinia to severe and sometimes fatal acute liver injury (LiverTox: Garcinia cambogia).
LiverTox gives garcinia a likelihood score of B. That means it is a likely cause of liver injury, but a rare one. The estimated rate is under 1 in 10,000 users.
NIH ODS counts 10 reported cases of liver toxicity tied to garcinia. One person died and two needed liver transplants (NIH ODS: Garcinia cambogia/HCA). NCCIH goes further and says garcinia "may be unsafe" because of the number of reports (NCCIH: garcinia cambogia).
A 1 in 10,000 risk sounds small. But liver injury can be serious, and nobody can tell in advance who will react.
History
What happened with Hydroxycut in 2009?
In May 2009, FDA told consumers to stop using 14 Hydroxycut products. It had received 23 reports of serious liver injury (FDA Hydroxycut warning (2009), as reported).
The reports included the death of a 19-year-old and one liver transplant. Pre-2009 Hydroxycut contained garcinia, according to LiverTox (LiverTox: Garcinia cambogia).
Hydroxycut mixed many ingredients, so garcinia was not the only suspect. LiverTox also lists cases with garcinia alone.
SodaSlim
How does SodaSlim's 130 mg of garcinia compare?
SodaSlim gives about 65 mg of HCA per capsule. The trial NIH describes used 1,500 mg of HCA a day, which is roughly 23 times more (NIH ODS: Garcinia cambogia/HCA).
That cuts both ways. If 1,500 mg did no better than placebo, 65 mg is unlikely to help. It is also a smaller exposure.
None of the sources we cite names a safe dose of garcinia. So a lower amount is not a promise of safety. It is just a lower amount.
SodaSlim also holds 130 mg of green tea extract, with about 58.5 mg of EGCG. Green tea extract is a well-established cause of rare liver injury, with more than 100 published cases (LiverTox: green tea). The SodaSlim amount sits far below the 800 mg a day of EGCG that EFSA linked to early signs of liver damage (EFSA: green tea catechins (2018)).
Fair view
What does SodaSlim's label get right?
To be fair, the label is clear. Every ingredient has its own printed amount, and there is no proprietary blend.
You can see the garcinia strength (50% HCA) and work out the HCA dose yourself. Many weight products hide amounts behind one blend total.
The label caution also points the right way. It says to consult a physician before use, especially if you take a medication or have a medical condition.
What it does not say is that garcinia and green tea extract carry liver reports. That is something buyers need to learn elsewhere. The supplement facts page types out the full label.
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Order nowWarning signs
What are the warning signs of liver injury?
Watch for dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain and unusual tiredness. These are general signs of liver injury listed by LiverTox (LiverTox: green tea).
Dark urine
Tea- or cola-colored urine that does not clear with water.
Yellowing
Yellow tint in the whites of the eyes or on the skin.
Belly pain
Pain or tenderness in the upper belly, often on the right side.
Unusual tiredness
Fatigue that feels new, heavy and out of proportion.
If any of these show up, stop SodaSlim and every other supplement. Then call a doctor the same day.
Your doctor
What should you ask your doctor about garcinia?
Ask whether garcinia is a good idea for you at all, given your liver health and medicines. A short list makes the visit easier.
Is my liver healthy enough?
Mention any past hepatitis, fatty liver, heavy drinking or abnormal liver tests.
Do my medicines add risk?
List every prescription, pain reliever and other supplement. If you take nadolol, mention the green tea extract too (NCCIH: green tea).
Should I get a liver test?
Ask whether a baseline blood test makes sense before you start.
Is there a better option?
Ask about a lifestyle plan, and whether you qualify for an approved prescription medicine (NIDDK: prescription weight-loss medicines).
More questions to bring are on the medicines and SodaSlim page.
Bottom line
Should garcinia worry SodaSlim buyers?
It should make you careful, not frightened. Garcinia's weight effect is small or absent, and its liver risk is rare but real.
The steady path still matters most. CDC says losing about 1 to 2 pounds a week is more likely to last (CDC: losing weight). Our healthy weight guide covers that path.
Next step
Where can you read more?
The side effects page covers caffeine and liver cautions in one place. The garcinia ingredient page has the full study details.
FAQ
Garcinia and liver safety FAQ
Is garcinia cambogia bad for your liver?
It can be, though rarely. LiverTox links garcinia to severe and sometimes fatal liver injury and gives it likelihood score B, with an estimated rate under 1 in 10,000 users. NCCIH says it may be unsafe.
How much HCA is in SodaSlim?
About 65 mg per capsule. The label lists 130 mg of Garcinia cambogia extract standardized to 50% HCA. The 12-week trial NIH describes used 1,500 mg of HCA a day.
Does garcinia cambogia really work for weight loss?
The evidence says not much. A 12-week trial found it no better than placebo, and a 2011 review of 9 trials found only about 0.88 kg of extra loss. The authors called the effect small.
What are signs of liver damage from supplements?
Dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain and unusual tiredness are the main signs to watch for. If you notice any, stop the supplement and call a doctor the same day.
Why was Hydroxycut pulled in 2009?
FDA told consumers to stop using 14 Hydroxycut products after 23 reports of serious liver injury, including one death and one transplant. Pre-2009 Hydroxycut contained garcinia among many other ingredients.
Can I take SodaSlim if I have liver disease?
Ask your doctor first. SodaSlim contains garcinia and green tea extract, both linked to rare liver injury. The label says to consult a physician before use if you have a medical condition.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
A small team that reads the SodaSlim label line by line, checks every number against public health sources (NIH ODS, NCCIH, LiverTox, EFSA, CDC, NIDDK, FDA, FTC) and rewrites it in plain English. We do not write for the manufacturer, and we update a page whenever the label, the prices or the evidence changes.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized retailer, not by the manufacturer. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
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