Garcinia cambogia Extract Increased Hepatic Levels of Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor and Lipids in Mice on Normal Diet

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Nov 14;24(22):16298. doi: 10.3390/ijms242216298.

Abstract

Garcinia cambogia extract (GCE) is a popular weight-loss supplement that also lowers plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. We hypothesized that GCE-mediated inhibition of ATP citrate lyase and thereby hepatic TG production could lead to compensatory mechanisms, including increased hepatic TG uptake via lipoprotein receptors. GCE (20 mg/day) administered 40 days orally to female C57BL/6Rj mice on a standard chow diet led to a decrease in both plasma fasting and post-prandial TG-rich lipoprotein levels, but with no significant change in body weight gain. Lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) protein levels, but not those of LDL-receptor, were increased as compared to controls. Mouse Hepa1-6 cells treated with the GCE active ingredient, hydroxycitrate, also led to increased LSR protein levels. Hepatic total cholesterol, TG, and muscle TG contents were higher in GCE-treated animals as compared to controls, whereas adipose TG levels were unchanged. LSR and LDL-receptor protein levels were correlated with liver total cholesterol, but only LDL-receptor was associated with liver TG. These results show that GCE treatment in mice on a standard chow diet led to significantly increased liver and muscle lipids, with no significant change in adipose tissue TG levels, which should be considered in the long-term use of GCE.

Keywords: Garcinia cambogia; lipid homeostasis; lipoprotein receptors; liver; mice; triglycerides.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Garcinia cambogia*
  • Lipolysis*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Plant Extracts