Although the Food and Drug Administration has yet to make an official announcement regarding the specific ingredient or ingredients responsible for causing liver damage in Hydroxycut users, an article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that Garcinia cambogia, a botanical ingredient in Hydroxycut products, may be the culprit.

According to the article, Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit that contains potentially hepatoxic (toxic to the liver) hydroxycitric acid, an ingredient in Hydroxycut weight loss supplements. In fact, a compound derived from Garcinia cambogia, branded "SuperCitrimax," is used in Hydroxycut. The author references six cases of hepatoxicity (liver damage) in people using Hydroxycut, but estimates that the total impact of Hydroxycut-caused liver damage is greater by "several degrees of magnitude." The six patients studied exhibited similar problems with liver function, which were resolved once they stopped taking Hydroxycut products.

Hydroxycut is the most popular brand in the burgeoning dietary supplement market, selling approximately a million units per year in the U.S. alone.

If you or a loved one has suffered liver damage while taking Hydroxycut products, contact a Hydroxycut lawsuit attorney at your convenience to discuss your legal options.