| The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of hydroxy citric acid (HCA) extracts from
Garcinia cambogia on metabolic, atherogenic and inflammatory biomarkers in obese women with nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present clinical trial was carried out on 40 overweight/obese
women with NAFLD. The patients were randomly allocated into either the “HCA group” (receiving calorierestricted
diet (−700 kcal d−1) accompanied by HCA tablets) and the “control group” (receiving only
calorie-restricted diet) for eight weeks. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference
(WC) were measured. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, liver enzymes, as well as inflammatory biomarkers
were determined at baseline and after the intervention. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline
and at the end of the trial and food intake data were analyzed by the Nutritionist IV software. Results
showed a decrease in energy and macronutrient intake in both groups (p < 0.05). Weight, BMI, WC, and
hip circumference as well as FBS, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased
and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly in the HCA group (p < 0.05).
There were also significant reductions in WC, FBS, TG, total cholesterol, LDL-C in the control group while
inter-group changes in FBS, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were statistically significant. Although atherogenic
indices reduced significantly in both groups, inter-group comparison revealed that the HCA group
showed greater decrease in the TG/HDL-C ratio than the control group (p = 0.004). Other atherogenic
indices including TC/HDL-C and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio showed greater reduction in the control versus
HCA group (p < 0.01). Some inflammatory factors were reduced in the HCA group; however, no significant
within- or between-group differences were revealed post-intervention. Our results indicated that
HCA supplementation plus calorie-restricted diet could improve some metabolic factors without any significant
effect on inflammation in patients with NAFLD. |