ANSES alerts to dangerous food supplements developed from subtropical plants – Liberation
At the National Food, Environmental and Labor Health Safety Agency (ANSES), an alert is activated when a signal « Represents with a significant probability a threat to the health of populations and requires an adapted response ». This Wednesday, March 5, precisely, one of these notifications has just been formulated by the risk assessment body. It concerns the consumption of Food supplements Developed from the Tamarinier de Malabar, a subtropical and tropical plant with the alleged mild properties.
« ANSES considers that these products should no longer be on the French marketsays Aymeric Dopter, head of risk assessment unit linked to nutrition to the French agency. We recommend that the whole population do not consume food supplements made from this plant or preparations containing it. ”
The Malabar Tamarinier has the common scientific name Garcinia Cambogia. This plant is mainly used in Southeast Asia, mainly as a condiment in culinary preparations, and sometimes for medicinal uses. In France, the prescription and issuance of drugs based on Garcinia Cambogia have been prohibited since 2012. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products had been prohibited with regard to « The lack of demonstration of therapeutic interest of this plant » and a « Advanced benefits /risks due to undesirable effects ».
On the other hand, for food supplements, this is another case. « Slim Metabol », « Fat-burner Slim Girlz », « Lipoxycut » … Since 2016, no less than 340 products based on Garcinia Cambogia have been identified on the French market. The pericarp of its fruit rich in hydroxycitric acid, derived from citric acid, is praised by marks to reduce the feeling of hunger and the storage of fat. Health allegations that have never been demonstrated, says ANSES today. On the contrary, after a review of world literature and « A global analysis of cases identified by different French vigilance systems »the national body declares that these food supplements can present a danger.
In his just published opinion, the health authority is formal: their ingestion is originally « Severe side effects »especially acute hepatitis, including in people with no medical history. The French nutritional vigilance system identified 38 reports between 2012 and March 2024, including one « Deadly fulminant hepatitis », that is to say a massive and rapid destruction of the liver. Expertise has also uncovered cases of psychiatric, digestive (rapid inflammation of the pancreas), cardiac and muscle. « 38 cases, that doesn't seem much, but 38 cases should never have been reassembledexhibits Aymeric Dopter. The undesirable effects occur without screaming, even in people in perfect health who find themselves brutally in the hospital, even in the cemetery. ”
Among the cases reported by ANSESsome people had history of psychiatric disorders, pancreatitis or hepatitis, suffering from certain diseases such as Diabetesobesity, hypertension, or treated with antiretrovirals. But four patients had no previous pathology or disorder, and three had no known history. « It is not normal for people to pay the consumption of these products from their livesinsists Aymeric Dopter. Weight loss without medical indication, by buying food supplements in pharmacy or on the Internet, has risks. To lose weight safely, it is best to turn to health professionals such as nutritionist doctors and dieticians. ”
If no restrictions associated with the use of tamarinier has been acted at Brussels level, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently carrying out a risk assessment concerning this substance. But for handles, you shouldn't waste time. « We ask the French authorities to withdraw the food supplements containing as a precautionary basis Garcinia Cambogia, Pending the evaluation of EFSA which will allow harmonization at European level « says Aymeric Dopter.
