Garcinia cambogia is an over the counter supplement marketed for weight loss. There is some concern of the possibility of serotonin toxicity in patients taking G. cambogia and on other serotonergic drugs. What is the proposed mechanism?
Lopez A et al. reported a case of a 35 year old female that developed a clinical syndrome consistent with serotonin toxicity after starting G. cambogia concurrently with escitalopram. Garcinia cambogia contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Rat studies have suggested that HCA may inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. Additionally, it is proposed that there is an increase in serotonin concentrations hypothesized due to upregulation of genes that encode serotonin receptors.
Lopez AM et al. Serotonin Toxicity Associated with Garcinia Cambogia Over the Counter Supplement. JMT 2014; 10: 399-401.