Safety research
Garcinia and Green Tea Extract in Sodaslim: What to Know About Liver Safety
Liver injury from these two extracts is rare. LiverTox rates green tea extract a well-established cause (score A, more than 100 cases) and garcinia a likely but rare cause (score B). Sodaslim has about 58 mg of EGCG and 65 mg of HCA per capsule, far below trial doses. Stop and see a doctor if you notice dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
Written by the Sodaslim editorial teamUpdated · 9 min read
The short answer
Can the extracts in Sodaslim affect your liver?
They can, but it is uncommon. Two of the five ingredients in Sodaslim, green tea extract and garcinia, appear in the U.S. government's liver injury database, LiverTox.
Most people who take these extracts have no liver problem at all. Reported cases are rare, and most people recovered after they stopped. The amounts in one Sodaslim capsule are also small next to the doses in studies and case reports.
Rare is not the same as never, though. Knowing the early signs is the most useful thing to take away.
LiverTox
What do the LiverTox scores for green tea and garcinia mean?
LiverTox gives green tea extract a score of A and garcinia a score of B. A means a well-established cause of liver injury; B means a likely but rare cause. LiverTox is run by the National Institutes of Health and grades how sure experts are that a product can harm the liver.
| What LiverTox reports | Green tea extract | Garcinia cambogia |
|---|---|---|
| Likelihood score | A: well-established cause | B: likely but rare cause |
| Number of reports | More than 100 cases | At least a dozen, many with mixed products |
| How often | Uncommon | Thought to be under 1 in 10,000 users |
| Usual onset | 1 to 6 months after starting | 1 to 4 weeks, sometimes 3 to 12 months |
| Type of injury | Hepatitis-like damage to liver cells | Damage to liver cells |
| Suspected cause | Catechins, mainly EGCG | Not pinned down |
| Amount per Sodaslim capsule | About 58 mg EGCG | About 65 mg HCA |
A score describes how certain the link is, not how often harm happens. An A does not mean the risk is high.
Green tea extract
Why is green tea extract linked to liver injury?
The concern centers on catechins, especially EGCG, taken in concentrated pill form. LiverTox points to these compounds as the likely trigger (LiverTox: Green tea). The NIH's NCCIH says liver injury is uncommon and comes mainly from extract tablets and capsules, not from tea you brew (NCCIH: Green tea).
Some people seem more sensitive than others. NCCIH notes that people with a certain immune gene, found in 5 to 15% of Americans, appear more likely to react (NCCIH: Green tea). Few people know whether they carry it.
More detail sits on the green tea extract ingredient page.
Garcinia
How rare is liver injury from garcinia?
Very rare. LiverTox estimates fewer than 1 case in 10,000 users (LiverTox: Garcinia cambogia). Early reports mostly involved products that mixed garcinia with other ingredients, so the true cause was hard to isolate. More recent reports involve garcinia on its own.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements counts 10 reported liver cases, including one death and two transplants, mostly with mixed products (NIH ODS: Weight-loss supplements (HP)). Those cases are serious, yet they come from a very widely used product. The garcinia ingredient page covers the weight research.
The amounts
How much green tea extract and garcinia is in one Sodaslim capsule?
One capsule holds 130 mg of green tea extract and 130 mg of garcinia extract. That works out to about 98 mg of catechins, 58 mg of EGCG and 65 mg of HCA. All five amounts are printed on the Sodaslim Supplement Facts label.
For scale, a one-year Minnesota trial gave women 843 mg of EGCG a day, and some had raised liver enzymes (NIH ODS: Weight-loss supplements (HP)). One Sodaslim capsule has roughly one fifteenth of that. Garcinia trials used 1,000 to 2,800 mg of HCA a day (NIH ODS: Weight-loss supplements (HP)); the capsule has about 65 mg.
Lower exposure is a fair point in Sodaslim's favor, not a guarantee. Liver reactions often depend on the person more than the dose.
Timing
How soon could liver problems show up?
Usually within weeks to a few months of starting. LiverTox says garcinia reactions tend to appear in 1 to 4 weeks, and green tea extract reactions in 1 to 6 months (LiverTox: Garcinia cambogia) (LiverTox: Green tea).
- Weeks 1-4
The usual window for garcinia reactions. Notice how you feel as you start a new bottle.
- Months 1-6
The usual window for green tea extract reactions. A clean first month does not end the watch.
- Month 6 and later
Fewer reports, though a few garcinia cases appeared at 3 to 12 months.
With both extracts in one capsule, the first six months deserve some attention, not worry.
Warning signs
Which liver warning signs should Sodaslim users know?
Dark urine and yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes are the clearest signs. Belly pain on the upper right side, nausea, loss of appetite and unusual tiredness can come first.
If you notice dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain, nausea or unusual tiredness, stop taking Sodaslim and see a doctor soon. Bring the bottle so they can read the full label. A simple blood test can check your liver.
The FDA asks people to report supplement problems through its Safety Reporting Portal, even when unsure of the cause (FDA: Q&A on dietary supplements). Common effects are listed on the Sodaslim side effects page.
The verdict
Should liver risk stop you from trying Sodaslim?
For most healthy adults, probably not, but it should shape how you use it. The risk is real and rare, and Sodaslim's extract amounts are small.
- Take one capsule a day, never more. The label says not to exceed the dose.
- Skip other green tea extract or garcinia products while you use it.
- Ask a doctor first if you have liver disease or take daily medicines. NCCIH says green tea extract can lower nadolol and atorvastatin levels and may interact with raloxifene (NCCIH: Green tea).
- Learn the warning signs once, and act on them quickly.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says green tea extract might not be safe for everyone (NIH ODS: Weight-loss supplements (consumer)). Respecting that, without fearing it, is the sensible middle ground.
FAQ
Sodaslim and liver safety: questions
How much EGCG is in Sodaslim compared with liver studies?
About 58 mg per capsule, a small fraction of the amounts tied to liver changes. LiverTox lists green tea extract as a well-established cause, with more than 100 reported cases (LiverTox: Green tea). Sodaslim has about 58 mg of EGCG per capsule, far below the 843 mg a day linked to raised liver enzymes in a one-year trial.
Does garcinia cambogia cause liver damage?
Rarely. LiverTox rates garcinia a likely but rare cause of liver injury, thought to affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 users (LiverTox: Garcinia cambogia). Reactions usually start within 1 to 4 weeks. Sodaslim has about 65 mg of HCA, well below the 1,000 mg and up used in trials.
When should I stop Sodaslim and call a doctor about my liver?
Stop right away if you notice dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain, nausea or unusual tiredness, then see a doctor. These signs are uncommon, but they need a prompt check.
Does Sodaslim interact with statins or other medicines?
It can. NCCIH says green tea extract lowers levels of atorvastatin and nadolol and may interact with raloxifene (NCCIH: Green tea). The label says to consult a physician first if you take any medication.
Is drinking green tea safer than green tea extract pills?
Yes, as far as the liver goes. NCCIH says liver injury has been reported mainly with concentrated extract tablets and capsules, not brewed tea (NCCIH: Green tea).
How do I report a reaction to a supplement like Sodaslim?
Use the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal online, and tell your doctor (FDA: Q&A on dietary supplements). You can also contact the brand at [email protected]. Keep the bottle and its lot number for the report.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retail desk for Sodaslim, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Sodaslim
Side effects
Caffeine effects, medicine interactions, the rare liver signs to know and a quick check before you start.
Read more
Green tea extract
About 98 mg of catechins, below every trial dose. What Cochrane found, and why extract pills differ from a cup of tea.
Read moreGarcinia extract
About 65 mg of HCA, where trials used 1,000 mg or more. The evidence, the liver reports and what the low dose means.
Read moreLicensed U.S. retail desk for Sodaslim
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