Evidence for the ef?cacy and safety of herbal weight loss preparations

作     者：Rachael Farrington Ian F.Musgrave Roger W.Byard 

作者机构：Adelaide Medical School The University of Adelaide Forensic Science SA 

出 版 物：《Journal of Integrative Medicine》 (结合医学学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2019年第17卷第2期

页      面：87-92页

核心收录：

学科分类：10[医学] 

基　　金：supported by PhD scholarship of the University of Adelaide 

主　　题：Weight loss Hepatotoxicity Complementary medicine Traditional Chinese medicine 

摘      要：Rising rates of obesity across the globe have been associated with an increase in the use of herbal preparations for weight control. However, the mechanisms of action for these substances are often not known,as is the potential for interaction with other herbal preparations or prescription pharmaceutical drugs. To investigate the reported efficacy and safety of herbal weight loss preparations, we conducted a review of the literature focusing on herbs that are most commonly used in weight loss preparations, specifically,Garcinia cambogia, Camellia sinensis, Hoodia gordonii, Citrus aurantium and Coleus forskohlii. There was no clear evidence that the above herbal preparations would cause sustained long-term weight loss in humans in the long term. Serious illness and even death have occasionally resulted from the use of herbal weight loss preparations. Few clinical trials have been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and/or safety of herbal weight loss preparations. In addition, potential issues of herb–herb and herb–drug interactions are often not considered. Regulation of these products is much less rigorous than for prescription medications, despite documented cases of associated hepatotoxicity.