Super CitriMax®, a novel calcium/potassium (–)-hydroxycitric acid extract, has been shown to reduce appetite and decrease body weight in both animals and humans. Until recently, the mechanisms by which it acts were not fully understood. The current study was conducted to determine the effects of Super CitriMax® on body weight and on the expression of genes (the process of making proteins from DNA-encoded instructions) in abdominal fat tissue. This tissue is of interest because excess fat distributed in the abdomen increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in men and women. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats received 10 mg of Super CitriMax® per kg of body weight, an amount corresponding to low-dose consumption in humans (about 600 mg for a 132 lb person). After 8 weeks, Super CitriMax®-supplemented animals had a modest but significant decrease in body weight compared to placebo-fed animals. No signs of abnormal behavior were observed. DNA microarray analysis identified over 9,900 genes and ESTs (fragments of DNA sequence) present in abdominal fat. About 1% of those identified were found to be sensitive to Super CitriMax®, while none of the genes that support fundamental tissue processes were adversely affected. In total, 93 genes were up-regulated (switched on) and 18 were down-regulated (turned off) in the fat tissue of HCA-fed animals. These genes included prostaglandin D synthase, an enzyme believed to indirectly promote obesity; aldolase B, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism; and lipocalin 2, a transporter of fat-soluble molecules and other diverse functions. Super CitriMax® also upregulated a family of genes involved in the signaling activity of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects sleep, mood and appetite control. This finding corroborates earlier studies in animals an humans showing that Super CitriMax® increases serotonin levels, reduces appetite and decreases body weight. This study is also the first to investigate the genetic basis underlying the effects of Super CitriMax®, and suggests that it influences weight control through serotonin pathways. Super CitriMax® was found to affect select genes and not those vital to normal processes, lending further support for the safety of Super CitriMax® as a dietary supplement to aid weight management.

Source: Roy S, Rink C, Khanna S, Phillips C, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Sen CK, Body Weight and Abdominal Fat Gene Expression Profile and Response to a Novel Hydroxycitric Acid-Based Dietary Supplement, Gene Expression 11:251-62, 2004.