Dangerous dietary supplements: Garcinia cambogia-associated hepatic failure requiring transplantation.

Commercial dietary supplements are marketed as a panacea for the morbidly obese seeking sustainable weight-loss. Unfortunately, many claims cited by supplements are unsupported and inadequately regulated. Most concerning, however, are the associated harmful side effects, often unrecognized by consumers. Garcinia cambogia extract and Garcinia cambogia containing products are some of the most popular dietary supplements currently marketed for weight loss. Here, we report the first known case of fulminant hepatic failure associated with this dietary supplement. One active ingredient in this supplement is hydroxycitric acid, an active ingredient also found in weight-loss supplements banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 for hepatotoxicity. Heightened awareness of the dangers of dietary supplements such as Garcinia cambogia is imperative to prevent hepatoxicity and potential fulminant hepatic failure in additional patients.

Core tip: The current regulatory practice for over-the-counter dietary supplements in addition to celebrity endorsements of these products unfounded claims has resulted in a significant increase in the use of dietary supplements for weight loss. Unfortunately, several such products have previously been demonstrated to be serious health risks. Here we present one of the first known cases of fulminant hepatic failure associated with one such popular weight loss supplement, Garcinia cambogia.

INTRODUCTION

Dietary supplements are an increasingly recognized cause of acute liver injury and fulminant hepatic failure. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, supplements, unlike prescription and over-the-counter medications, require proven toxicity prior to FDA sanctions[1]. The Drug Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) identifies dietary supplements among the most common causes of drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Nearly a quarter of cases suffer irreversible liver damage, resulting in potential liver transplant (4%) and death (6%)[2]. Evaluation of dietary supplement-induced hepatoxicity is difficult due to wide formulaic variations, and ineffectual federal manufacturing oversight allows contamination by alfatoxins, microorganisms, pesticides, heavy metals, and synthetic drugs. These contaminants have known hepatotoxicity and may contribute to detrimental effects[3]. In addition, following formal FDA citation, a supplement may be remarketed after minor reformulation and/or rebranding.

Of particular note has been hepatotoxicity associated with several different brands of “fat busters”. Commercial fat-burning dietary supplements are widely marketed as “miracle-cures” for obesity on major network television shows with celebrity endorsements. Supplements are advertised to stimulate weight loss by increasing the body’s basal metabolic rate; however, campaigns are bereft of associated side effects (reviewed in[3,4]). Multiple companies manufacture supplements of the same name with different composition, contaminants, and concentrations of active ingredients, potentially resulting in variable hepatotoxicity. Effort made by the FDA to collect data regarding toxicities through “Safety Reporting Portal” in the MedWatch system[5] is reliant upon consumer and industry reporting compliance. As a result, recognition of toxicities may arise slowly.

Garcinia cambogia (G. cambogia) containing products are currently one of the most highly marketed group of weight-loss supplements commercially available. The supplement is derived from the rind of the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia tree, which is native to southwestern India. It has gained significant acclaim for its weight-loss benefits through mainstream talk shows and medical media celebrity spokespeople. Here, we report the first known case of fulminant hepatic failure associated with dietary intake of a “pure” Garcinia cambogia supplement.

CASE REPORT

A 34-year old Hispanic male presented with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dark urine. Testing revealed elevated transaminases and bilirubin; however, imaging failed to demonstrate cirrhosis or anatomic abnormality. Hepatitis work-up, including testing for viral hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, and autoimmune hepatitis, was unremarkable with exception of an elevated Ferritin level of 7089 mg/dL. Genetic testing for hemochromatosis was negative. Medical history was only positive for occasional social alcohol use, and drug toxicology testing was negative. He denied use of energy drinks, herbs, Chinese teas, or muscle milk. He was advised to discontinue alcohol use, which he did, and his symptoms initially seemed to abate.

Six weeks later, the patient developed asterixis, jaundice, and confusion. Follow-up imaging was concerning for rapid onset of cirrhosis or infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma. He was transferred to our center for further evaluation. On admission, transaminases were elevated with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 624 U/L, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 520 U/L and total bilirubin of 34.7 mg/dL. International normalized ratio (INR) remained elevated despite multiple infusions of fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K. Factor Vand VII activities were 18% and < 6%, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Eovist contrast demonstrated interval development of heterogeneous, enhancing nodularity with portal venous washout, unlikely to be an infiltrative tumor process.

A full repeat hepatitis work-up was performed (Table 1). No definitive cause of acute liver failure could be identified; however, some findings were equivocal. Autoantibody titers demonstrated a positive antinuclear antibody, but no other positive autoantibodies. Evaluation of Wilson’s disease demonstrated normal ceruloplasmin and copper levels; however, 24-h urine copper was elevated. Serum ferritin but not transferrin was elevated.

Table 1

Work-up for causes of acute liver failure in reported patient

Laboratory test	Result	Reference range
Hepatic function panel
Aspartate aminotransferase	624 U/L (H)	7-36 U/L
Alanine aminotransferase	520 U/L (H)	4-45 U/L
Alkaline phosphatase	156 U/L (H)	31-103 U/L
Bilirubin, total	34.7 mg/dL (H)	0.2-1.1 mg/dL
Bilirubin, conjugated	14.8 mg/dL (H)	0.0-0.2 mg/dL
Albumin	3.6 g/dL (L)	3.7-5.1 g/dL
Total Protein	5.8 g/dL (L)	6.2-8.6 g/dL
Coagulation factors
Prothombin time	37.9 s (H)	9.1-11.9 s
INR	3.5 (H)	< 1.2
Factor VII activity	< 6% (L)	> 50% activity
Factor V activity	18% (L)	> 50% activity
Tumor markers
CEA	2.3 ng/mL	< 3.1 ng/mL
CA 19-9	235 U/mL (H)	0-35 U/mL
AFP	51.1 ng/mL (H)	1.6-4.5 ng/mL
AFP-L3	19.0% (H)	0.5%-9.9%
PIVKA	4.4 ng/mL	< 6.3 ng/mL
Viral serologies
Hepatitis A, IgM	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
Hepatitis A, IgG	Reactive1	Nonreactive
Hepatitis B surface antigen	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
Hepatitis B surface antibody, quantitative	< 10 IU/L	< 10 IU/L
Hepatitis B core antibody, total	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
Hepatitis C antibody screen	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
Hepatitis C RNA quantitative PCR	Not Detected	Not detected
Hepatitis E antibody, IgG	Not Detected	Not detected
Hepatitis E antibody, IgM	Not Detected	Not detected
CMV antibody immune status	Positive1	Negative
CMV DNA quantitative PCR	Not Detected	Not detected
Liver tissue CMV in situ hybridization	Negative	Negative
EBV-VCA IgM	Negative	Negative
EBV-VCA IgG	Positive1	Negative
EBV DNA quantitative PCR	Not Detected	Not detected
Liver tissue EBV in situ Hybridization	Negative	Negative
Adenovirus DNA Quantitative PCR	Not Detected	Not Detected
Liver tissue adenovirus in situ hybridization	Negative	Negative
Herpes Simplex 1 IgM screen	Negative	Negative
Herpes Simplex 2 IgM screen	Negative	Negative
Liver Tissue HSV 1 and 2 in situ hybridization	Negative	Negative
RPR	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
Autoantibody titer
Antinuclear antibody	Positive1	Negative
Antinuclear antibody titer	1:401	< 1:20
Smooth muscle antibody	< 1:20	< 1:20
Liver kidney microsome antibody IgG	< 20.0 U	< 20.0 U
Soluble liver antigen autoantibody	< 20.1 U	< 20.1 U
Wilson’s disease evaluation
Copper, RBC	0.71 mg/L	0.53-0.91 mg/L
Copper, serum	95 μg/dL	70-140 μg/dL
Ceruloplasmin	22 mg/dL	17-48 mg/dL
Copper, 24-h urine	1055 μg/d (H)	3-50 μg/day
Quantitative liver copper	47 μg/g tissue	10-55 μg/g tissue
Hemochromatosis evaluation
Total iron	243 μg/dL (H)2	23-202 μg/dL
Iron binding capacity	< 308 μg/dL (L)3	240-520 μg/dL
Transferrin	163 mg/dL (L)	198-386 mg/dL
Ferritin	3254 ng/mL (H)	8-350 ng/mL
Alpha-1-antitrypsin	91 mg/dL	83-199 mg/dL
Acetaminophen	< 10 μg/mL	10-20 μg/mL

Indicates positive result;

(H) indicates value above the reference range;

(L) indicates value below the reference range. AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; EBV: Epstein Barr virus; CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; CMV: Cytomegalovirus; CA 19-9: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9; AFP-L3: Lectin-reactive AFP percentage; HSV: Herpes simplex virus; INR: International normalized ratio; PCR: Polymerase chain reaction; PIVKA: Protein induced by vitamin K absence.

Liver biopsy was performed and demonstrated submassive necrosis with collapse of the hepatic architecture involving about 70% of the liver parenchyma. Mild lymphocytic inflammatory infiltration and minimal canalicular cholestasis were seen. No viral inclusions or other infectious agents were identified by histology or immunohistochemistry. No evidence of granuloma, tumor, or features of cirrhosis were demonstrated. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain with diastase was negative for alpha-1 antitrypsin globules. Iron stain showed only mild iron deposition in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes. Quantitative tissue copper was within normal limits (Table 1). Findings were felt to be potentially related to drug-induced liver injury.

After extensive questioning, the patient divulged intake of Garcinia cambogia, purchased through the Internet retailor Swanson Vitamins. He imbibed two 80 mg capsules of “Garcinia Cambogia 5:1 Extract” three times daily before meals for five months preceding initial presentation. Since not advised against intake, he continued the supplement after initial presentation. He denied any other medications or supplements and reported no alcohol intake for two months.

The patient’s status declined and his mental status deteriorated. He was listed status 1A for liver transplantation. He received an orthotopic liver transplant from an ABO-identical brain dead donor and has recovered without incident. Histopathologic examination of the explanted liver demonstrated near total hepatic necrosis with massive hepatocellular dropout and mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates, consistent with severe drug-induced liver injury (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Histopathologic evaluation of explanted liver with Garcinia Cambogia associated fulminant hepatitis. A: Histopathologic examination demonstrates large areas of panacinar necrosis with complete hepatocyte dropout, collapsed lobules, florid ductular reaction, and predominantly lymphocytic infiltrates (hematoxylin-eosin stain, original magnification × 200); B: Non-necrotic areas demonstrate hepatocyte ballooning, cholestasis, and mild lymphocytic infiltration. Occasional apoptotic hepatocytes (acidophil bodies) were present (hematoxylin-eosin stain, original magnification × 400).

DISCUSSION

Americans spent approximately 59.8 billion dollars on weight loss products in 2014[6], and an estimated 10.1% of obese Americans have purchased over-the-counter supplements for weight-loss. Unfortunately, utilization does not correlate with sustained weight-loss[7]. One product that has been heavily marketed as a “revolutionary fat buster” and a “magical ingredient” to promote weight loss is G. cambogia. This extract from the rind of the G. cambogia fruit is currently contained in 655 currently marketed products according to the Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database[8]. These include “purified” supplement pills, multivitamins, and even energy drinks with widely disparate compositions, dosage, and potential contaminants.

The particular brand of Garcinia cambogia in this case was “Swanson Premium Brand Garcinia Cambogia 5:1 Extract,” reported to contain 80mg of a 5:1 concentrate of G. cambogia (equivalent to 400mg of standard preparation). Other listed ingredients include rice flour, gelatin, magnesium stearate, and silica. The company reports that they do no assay for the hydroxycitric acid concentration, the fruit derivative reportedly responsible for weight-loss benefits of Garcinia cambogia[9]. This is of note since hydroxycitric acid is the main derivative thought to be responsible for the weight-loss benefits of Garcinia cambogia. Mechanistically, it acts to prevents citric acid metabolism resulting inhibition of de novo fatty acid synthesis[10].

G. cambogia was also a main active ingredient in the weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut® (Iovate Health Sciences, Inc., Oakville, ON), which has known hepatoxicity[11-16]. In May 2009, the FDA issued a consumer warning recalling all Hydroxycut® products due to 23 hepatotoxicity cases. Prior to 2004, the formulation also contained ephedra, which was removed following the FDA ban. However, ten of 23 cases of hepatotoxicity, including the patient death, occurred after the 2004 reformulation to remove ephedra[17]. G. cambogia was present in Hydroxycut® following the 2004 reformulation, but additional cases of hepatotoxicity occurred and a second FDA warning resulted in a second recall in 2009. The supplement was again reformulated and remarketed. G. cambogia is absent from the currently marketed formulations of Hydroxycut®.

Although G.cambogia has been suggested as the putative cause of the banned supplement’s hepatotoxic effects[16], there is no definitive evidence. The majority of G. cambogia formulation associated with hepatotoxicity have been mixed supplements were a definitive causal relation could not be drawn. However, in the past several months, several cases of G. cambogia associated acute liver failure have been reported[18,19], reinforcing the toxic potential of this particular supplement. Agreement upon the actual liver toxicity of G. cambogia has been mixed, and the majority of evidence is drawn from rodent models[20]. The product can induce liver inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress in mice. In one such study, supplement intake increased collagen deposition, elevated liver function tests, induced inflammatory cytokines, and stimulated oxygen free-radicals[21]. However, supplement advocates cite rodent models in which G. cambogia demonstrates hepatoprotective effects, including decreased hyperlipidemia and hepatic oxidative stress in rats fed with a high-fat diet[22].

This is one of the first reported cases of acute liver failure specifically associated with a “purified” supplement of G. cambogia. The patient had histologic evidence of drug-induced liver injury in the absence of other medication or alcohol use. Viral, autoimmune, and genetic (i.e., hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease) causes of acute liver failure were definitively ruled-out, and G. cambogia intake was the only apparent risk factor. Unfortunately, independent laboratory evaluation of the supplement was not performed, which could have identified potential contaminants and verified manufacturer reported composition. While evidence from a case report rarely offers indisputable proof of causality, this case, in conjunction with known cases of hepatotoxicity and liver failure associated with other G. cambogia-containing supplements warrants a high index of suspicion.

Conditions predisposing patients to liver toxicity associated with Garcinia cambogia and like products remain unidentified. Acute liver failure from supplement ingestion appears relatively rare compared to their widespread use. Certain patients may have genetic predisposition or pre-existing liver damage, compounding hepatotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 is most commonly responsible for hepatic metabolism of drugs, and genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 genes have previously be shown to result in toxic accumulation of certain drugs or metabolites. For example, toxicity associated with weight-loss supplements containing N-nitrofenfluramine has been associated with cytochrome CYP2C19 phenotypes[23]. Mitochondrial injury, suggesting of toxic accumulation of N-nitrofenfluramine, was associated with a poor metabolizer phenotype; while, mitochondrial injury was absent in extensive metabolizers of the drug. One extensive metabolizer developed hypersensitivity-associated hepatitis related to drug ingestion; however, mitochondrial injury was absent. Toxicity to G. cambogia may have incomplete penetrance due to a similar dependence upon genetic polymorphisms. Alternatively, injury may be more likely as a second hit in the setting of pre-existing liver damage. At our institution, a second case of G. cambogia-associated acute liver failure was identified; however, the patient had a remote history of heavy binge drinking with final pathology suggestive of early fibrosis. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity could not be definitively diagnosed due to this history, but the association with ingestion of large quantities of G. cambogia was suspicious, given that the degree chronic liver disease insufficiently accounted for her acute hepatic failure.

While additional research is necessary to further identify the link between Garcinia Cambogia and severe liver damage, public warning to potentially deadly side effects is necessary. This case emphasizes the need for direct questioning regarding dietary supplement intake in any case of acute hepatic injury. Manufacturers compliance with current regulations regarding contaminants is insufficient to preclude consumer toxicity, and increased public awareness of these dangers is crucial. Current regulation and oversight of the dietary supplement market should be scrutinized to improve supplement purity and identification of dangers. Endorsements by medical media celebrities and claims of “miracle results” should be carefully monitored for veracity. This case bears concerning similarity to those of Hydroxycut-associated liver failure, suggesting that although the product name may change, deadly side effects remain the same.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

The patient initially presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and symptoms progressed to include confusion, coagulopathy, and jaundice.

Clinical diagnosis

Evaluation for viral, genetic, and antibody mediated causes of hepatitis were largely negative with histological evidence of near total hepatic necrosis on biopsy.

Differential diagnosis

Alternative autoimmune, viral, and genetic causes of acute liver failure must be excluded. In the absence of these, careful questioning regarding medications, herbal supplements, and energy drinks must be undertaken.

Laboratory diagnosis

Negative laboratory evaluation for autoimmune, viral, and genetic causes of acute liver failure in the presence of elevated liver function tests and coagulopathy should raise clinical suspicion for drug-induced liver injury.

Imaging diagnosis

Magnetic resonance imaging with Eovist contrast demonstrated interval development of heterogeneous, enhancing nodularity with portal venous washout, unlikely to be an infiltrative tumor process.

Pathological diagnosis

Explant pathology demonstrated near total hepatic necrosis with massive hepatocellular dropout and mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates.

Treatment

Patient received liver transplantation with complete resolution of symptoms.

Related reports

Acute liver failure and severe hepatotoxicity has been associated multiple dietary supplements utilized for weight loss. These include the supplement Hydroxycut®, which was removed from the market by the FDA and has undergone several reformulations.

Term explanation

Garcinia cambogia - tree grown in southwestern India. Extracts from the rind of the fruit from this tree are high in hydroxycitric acid and are marketed as weight-loss supplements.

Experiences and lessons

Careful questioning of any patient presenting with liver function abnormalities or acute liver failure should prompt questioning regarding dietary supplement and energy drink consumption. Patients with acute liver failure should be promptly referred to a transplant center for treatment.

Peer-review

This article presents one of the first known cases of hepatotoxicity associated with intake of the dietary supplement Garcinia cambogia. Reviewers felt the article was timely and well written. They requested additional information regarding dosage of the supplement as well as some additional discussion regarding its effects.