Exposure

This is a discussion paper. It does not reflect the views of the Committee. It should not be cited.

Brief market analysis

181.             A brief market analysis was carried out using the search term on Google: “Garcinia cambogia buy UK”. This information was collated into Tables 3 and 4. The FSA’s Exposure Assessment Team (EAT) have quality assured this data by reviewing the transcription of the information in the table is correct according to the weblinks.

182.             The Holland & Barret website states that “Most studies have been based on 900 mg to 3,000mg of HCA of garcinia cambogia daily. Dosage recommendations on commercially available pills are generally lower, around 300mg – 1,600mg daily.” (Holland & Barrett, 2019). At the time of writing, two products (each available in different pack sizes) were available that contained G. cambogia in MIDS: G. cambogia and green coffee bean capsules (600 mg G. Cambogia (fruit) per day (2 capsules)) in 60 or 100 capsule bottles; protein shakes (150 mg G. cambogia extract/55g per scoop; instructions state to add 2 scoops per serving and recommends 1-3 servings daily – total of up to 900 mg G. cambogia extract/day) in 1 or 2 kg tubs (Holland & Barrett, 2025).

183.             Other online retailers such as Amazon, Superdrug, Grape Tree, Natur House and various body building supplement & nutrition websites offer G. cambogia capsule products with daily doses of HCA ranging from 80 – 10,000 mg. However, the product description and labelling are inconsistent with some listings simply stating G. cambogia extract without describing whether it is HCA nor the standardised HCA content. A powdered product of G. Cambogia extract was also available, where half a teaspoon serving gave a dose of 500 mg HCA (60% standardised (Oils and Herbs, 2025). It may be possible that other (non-)UK retailers offer products with higher concentrations of HCA than identified in this discussion paper.

Estimated exposure

184.             A comprehensive exposure assessment using consumption data from years 1-11 of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (Bates et al., 2014; Bates et al., 2016; Roberts et al., 2018; Bates et al., 2020) was not possible, for the following reasons:

• Specific food supplements containing G. cambogia are not in the NDNS.
• Specific food/drink products containing G. cambogia are not in the NDNS. Whilst consumption estimates for food/drink products containing G. cambogia could be based on consumption of “normal” versions of the food in NDNS, it was noted these products are uncommon; this approach may have resulted in a significant overestimation of exposure.
• The use of the rind for culinary purposes was not in scope for the exposure assessment. In this instance, using the identified dose for use as a supplement was considered the most appropriate approach.

185.             Therefore, the exposure estimates provided for the identified products of the market analysis are based on the recommended dose/serving size and the average body weights of adults (aged 19-64 years) and toddlers (aged 1.5-3 years) from the NDNS (78.6 and 14.6 kg, respectively).

186.  Most products in the market analysis included warning information that recommended the product was suitable for adults only. However, consumption by other age groups could not be ruled out completely. Therefore, toddlers have been chosen as the age group for worst case exposure estimates.

187.             Table 3 provides dosage information for G. cambogia only supplements, whilst Table 4 provides dosage information for multi-ingredient G. cambogia dietary supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

188.             Table 5 and Table 6 provide the exposure estimates for adults (G. cambogia only and MIDS products respectively), while Table 7 and Table 8 provide the exposure estimates for toddlers (G. cambogia only and MIDS products respectively). There are exposure estimates for both G. cambogia and HCA, where possible. In some cases, insufficient information was provided to perform an exposure assessment for one or the other.

Table 3 - Dosage information for G. cambogia only supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

* Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Table 4 Dosage information for multi-ingredient G. cambogia dietary supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

*Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Table 5 - Exposure estimates for adults from G. cambogia only supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

* Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Table 6 - Exposure estimates for adults from multi-ingredient G. cambogia dietary supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

* Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Table 7 - Exposure estimates for toddlers from G. cambogia only supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

* Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Table 8 - Exposure estimates for toddlers from multi-ingredient G. cambogia dietary supplements, as sold in UK online retailers at the time of the assessment.

* Maximum serving assumes the maximum amount recommended on the packaging or website of the supplement. E.g. if recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day, this table assumes 2 capsules would be taken. Another example is if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the highest suggestion has been used.

**An assumption has been made regarding the value, see Table 1 (Annex A of TOX/2025/41) for more details.

Uncertainties in the exposure assessment

189.             It should be highlighted that the UK market analysis of G. cambogia dietary supplements was performed in brief and as such, may not include all products that are available online. Thus, products with higher dosage recommendations and resulting in higher estimated exposures may exist on the UK market.

190.             Some assumptions have been made where dosage recommendations are varied. In cases where the dosage is given as a range (e.g. 1-3 capsules per day), the highest possible amount has been assumed to be consumed (e.g. 3 capsules per day). Also, where there is a discrepancy between the packaging image and website instructions, the highest dosage has been assumed e.g. if the website suggests a serving of 2 capsules a day, but the packaging suggests 3, then the value of 3 has been used.

191.             Some assumptions have been made where G. cambogia or HCA content has not been explicitly stated. E.g. for pure G. cambogia it is assumed that 5g-10g of the powder is equal to 5000-10,000 mg of G. cambogia (1g = 1000mg). I.e. it is assumed that no other ingredient(s) are present.

192.             As stated in paragraph 186, most supplements in the market analysis, provided warnings on the website/ packaging recommending that that the product is only suitable for adults. However, exposures for other age groups could not be completely excluded. Toddlers have been selected as the age group for worst case exposure estimates, which are expressed on a per kg bodyweight basis. This is expected to be a conservative assessment and likely to be protective of other age groups under the age of 18 due to the average bodyweight of toddlers being lower than older children.

193.             Infants have not been included in the assessment as it is assumed that supplements intended for weight loss and provided as small capsules or powders that could cause a choking hazard would not be used for infants.

Uncertainties

194.             The following uncertainties have been noted:

•        Dietary supplement labels often do not list the full scientific name/specie of G. cambogia nor the part of the plant that the extract(s) is/are derived from. This represents an uncertainty as it does not allow accurate determination of the components of the food product (including food supplements).
• G. cambogia products have inconsistent labelling. Some are simply marketed as G. cambogia or G. cambogia extract without describing whether it is HCA nor the standardised HCA content. This poses an issue for both exposure and risk assessment as the HCA content is unknown.
• The percentage of standardised HCA in G. cambogia extract or the salt form of HCA in food supplement products is not always disclosed and there is inconsistency in labelling of said products. Depending on the amount of concentrate and the form of HCA salt, the toxicological profile could potentially be different.
• G. cambogia (and/or its extract; HCA) is more commonly present in MIDS that have other active compounds that may or may not be fully disclosed, which does not allow for a comprehensive risk assessment.
• If G. cambogia (and/or its extract) is present in MIDS there is a potential synergistic effect of the mixture, the potential risk(s) of which is unknown.
• Consumers may use more than one HIDS and/or in combination with prescription drugs. Incorrect dosing is also possible should the consumer not follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
• Considerations for the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals, extraction solvents (from the manufacturing process), pesticides or any other chemicals that could pose a risk to health have not been considered in this assessment.
• Case reports in the literature are limited to certain brands and formulations of G. cambogia and may not always provide the holistic state of the consumer: granularity on duration of exposure and dose, health status of the consumer (e.g., do they have suspected liver injury or immunocompromised or any other, fasting or non-fasting, physically active or not active), concomitant with other drugs or MIDS. Thus, identification of sensitive population and establishment of a mode of action for the toxicity observed in these cases is always not possible.
• Possible drug-drug interactions have been reported in some case-studies (e.g., anti-depression (serotonergic drugs), drugs affecting the liver). However, there is little scientific information to be able to fully assess this potential risk. Furthermore, it is unknown if other types of medication can cause adverse drug interaction.
• The long-term safety of G. cambogia (and/or its extract; HCA) has not been established.