Home Ingredients LeanGard® (Weight-Management Blend)
Weight Management

LeanGard® (Weight-Management Blend)

Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
4 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

LeanGard® is a weight-management blend from Sabinsa rather than a single ingredient. It combines three Sabinsa extracts: ForsLean® (Coleus forskohlii root, standardized for forskolin), GarCitrin® (Garcinia fruit rind extract supplying hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, and garcinol) and BioPerine® (black pepper extract standardized for piperine, added to aid absorption). It is marketed for body composition alongside diet and exercise. Sabinsa announced a 12-week placebo-controlled trial of the blend in 2008, but no trial of the finished blend is indexed in PubMed. The components have their own records: forskolin lowered body fat in one small trial in men but did not change body weight in two other trials, and pooled HCA trials show a small weight effect of uncertain clinical relevance.

Studied Dose No dose of the finished blend has been tested in a published, peer-reviewed trial. Follow the product label.
Active Compound Proprietary blend from Sabinsa: ForsLean® (Coleus forskohlii root extract standardized for forskolin), GarCitrin® (Garcinia fruit rind extract with hydroxycitric acid and garcinol) and BioPerine® (black pepper extract standardized for piperine).

Benefits

Body Composition Support (Adjunct)

LeanGard® is marketed for body composition alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Sabinsa announced a 12-week placebo-controlled trial of the blend in 2008 and reported favorable weight results, but no peer-reviewed report of it is indexed in PubMed, so its data cannot be checked. Evidence comes only from studies of the separate components.

Supported by Trial 1

Forskolin (ForsLean®) Component

The Coleus forskohlii component supplies forskolin, which raises cyclic AMP in cells. Tested alone at 250 mg of a 10% extract twice daily, it lowered body fat and fat mass compared with placebo in one 12-week trial in 30 men, with lean mass only a trend, while trials in women and in dieting adults found no weight difference from placebo.

Supported by Trial 1

Garcinia HCA/Garcinol Component

The GarCitrin® component supplies hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and garcinol. A meta-analysis of nine pooled HCA trials found about 0.9 kg more weight loss than placebo, a small effect of uncertain clinical relevance, and a 12-week trial in 135 adults found no significant difference in weight or fat loss from placebo.

Supported by Trial 1

Enhanced Absorption (BioPerine®)

BioPerine® black pepper extract is added to improve absorption of the other ingredients rather than to drive weight loss. In laboratory studies piperine inhibits the drug transporter P-glycoprotein and the enzyme CYP3A4, which help clear many compounds from the gut and liver; no study has measured this within LeanGard®.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

cAMP Signaling (Forskolin)

Forskolin activates adenylate cyclase and raises cyclic AMP in cells, and in isolated rat fat cells higher concentrations increased lipolysis, the breakdown of stored fat. This is the rationale for the ForsLean® component; human trials of forskolin alone showed lower body fat in one small trial and no weight change in two others.

2

ATP-Citrate Lyase Inhibition (HCA)

Hydroxycitric acid competitively inhibits ATP-citrate lyase, an enzyme that may play a key role in making new fat. This is the proposed basis for Garcinia's weight-management positioning, but a 12-week randomized trial of HCA found no extra weight or fat loss compared with placebo.

3

Piperine Bioavailability Enhancement

Piperine inhibits P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4 in laboratory models. Both help limit how much of some compounds passes from the gut into the blood, so piperine could raise the absorption and blood levels of co-administered compounds.

Clinical trials

1
Garcinia/HCA Weight Evidence (Shared Component)
PubMed

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of Garcinia extract (HCA), relevant to the GarCitrin® component of the blend: 12 trials included, 9 pooled. (Onakpoya et al. 2011, J Obes)

Pooled across HCA randomized trials.

HCA produced about 0.88 kg more weight loss than placebo, a small effect of uncertain clinical relevance; digestive side effects were twice as common on HCA in one included trial. The review covers HCA alone, not the LeanGard® blend.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No safety data have been published for the finished blend.
In one trial included in a Garcinia meta-analysis, digestive side effects were twice as common on HCA as on placebo.
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists low blood pressure, heart rate changes, headache and diarrhea as reported side effects of forskolin.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no safety data for the blend; avoid.

Important Drug interactions

Blood pressure medicines: laboratory studies suggest forskolin lowers blood pressure, and Memorial Sloan Kettering advises against combining it with blood pressure drugs.
Warfarin and other blood thinners: forskolin inhibits platelet clumping in laboratory studies, which could raise bleeding risk.
Medicines handled by CYP3A4 or P-glycoprotein: piperine inhibits both in laboratory studies and could raise blood levels of some medicines taken by mouth; ask a pharmacist.

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Frequently asked questions about LeanGard® (Weight-Management Blend)

What is LeanGard?

LeanGard® is a weight-management blend from Sabinsa rather than a single ingredient. It combines three Sabinsa extracts: ForsLean® (Coleus forskohlii root, standardized for forskolin), GarCitrin® (Garcinia fruit rind extract supplying hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, and garcinol) and BioPerine® (black pepper extract standa…

What is LeanGard used for?

LeanGard is researched primarily for Weight Management. LeanGard® is marketed for body composition alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Sabinsa announced a 12-week placebo-controlled trial of the blend in 2008 and reported favorable weight results, but no peer-reviewed report of it is…

What is the recommended dosage of LeanGard?

The clinically studied dose is No dose of the finished blend has been tested in a published, peer-reviewed trial. Follow the product label. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is LeanGard safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, LeanGard is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: No safety data have been published for the finished blend. In one trial included in a Garcinia meta-analysis, digestive side effects were twice as common on HCA as on placebo. It may also interact with some medications. LeanGard is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does LeanGard interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood pressure medicines: laboratory studies suggest forskolin lowers blood pressure, and Memorial Sloan Kettering advises against combining it with blood pressure drugs. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for LeanGard?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for LeanGard as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 9 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(9 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Onakpoya I, Hung SK, Perry R, Wider B, Ernst E. The Use of Garcinia Extract (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Weight loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials. J Obes. 2011;2011:509038. doi: 10.1155/2011/509038.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of randomized trials of Garcinia extract (HCA): 12 trials included and 9 pooled. HCA gave a small, statistically significant extra weight loss over placebo (mean difference -0.88 kg), with uncertain clinical relevance; gastrointestinal adverse events were twice as common on HCA in one included study. HCA alone, not the LeanGard blend.
  2. Heymsfield SB, Allison DB, Vasselli JR, Pietrobelli A, Greenfield D, Nunez C. Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1596-600. doi: 10.1001/jama.280.18.1596.PubMedUsed to support: 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 135 overweight adults on a high-fiber, low-energy diet: 1,500 mg a day of HCA gave no significant difference in weight loss (3.2 kg versus 4.1 kg) or fat-mass loss compared with placebo. The paper also describes HCA as a competitive inhibitor of ATP-citrate lyase. HCA alone, not the blend.
  3. Godard MP, Johnson BA, Richmond SR. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obes Res. 2005;13(8):1335-43. doi: 10.1038/oby.2005.162.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial in 30 overweight and obese men (15 per group) taking 250 mg of a 10% forskolin extract twice daily; the abstract does not name a brand or a funder. Body fat percentage and fat mass (DXA) fell and bone mass rose compared with placebo; lean body mass rose only as a trend (p = 0.097). Serum free testosterone rose significantly versus placebo, while the change in total testosterone (+16.77% versus -1.08%) was not significant. The abstract reports no body-weight result.
  4. Henderson S, Magu B, Rasmussen C, Lancaster S, Kerksick C, Smith P, Melton C, Cowan P, Greenwood M, Earnest C, Almada A, Milnor P, Magrans T, Bowden R, Ounpraseuth S, Thomas A, Kreider RB. Effects of coleus forskohlii supplementation on body composition and hematological profiles in mildly overweight women. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2005;2(2):54-62. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-2-2-54.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial of ForsLean (250 mg of 10% Coleus forskohlii extract twice daily) in mildly overweight women, with results for 7 on ForsLean and 12 on placebo. Fat mass, fat-free mass and body fat did not differ from placebo, and body mass tended to rise less on ForsLean (p = 0.10). TSH, T3, T4, blood lipids, heart rate, blood pressure and weekly side-effect reports showed no clinically significant changes. The authors concluded it does not appear to promote weight loss. The full text states the study was funded in part by a research grant from Sabinsa Corporation.
  5. Loftus HL, Astell KJ, Mathai ML, Su XQ. Coleus forskohlii Extract Supplementation in Conjunction with a Hypocaloric Diet Reduces the Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight and Obese Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2015;7(11):9508-22. doi: 10.3390/nu7115483.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial in 30 overweight and obese adults advised to follow a reduced-calorie diet, using 250 mg of a 10% forskolin Coleus forskohlii extract twice daily made and supplied by Olive Life Sciences (not ForsLean). Waist and hip circumference fell in both groups; the full text reports no significant effect on body weight or other body measures compared with placebo. Insulin and insulin resistance improved compared with placebo. Evidence for forskolin extract on its own.
  6. Litosch I, Hudson TH, Mills I, Li SY, Fain JN. Forskolin as an activator of cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in rat adipocytes. Mol Pharmacol. 1982;22(1):109-15..PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory study in isolated rat fat cells: forskolin raised cyclic AMP by activating adenylate cyclase, and at higher concentrations (10 to 100 micromolar) increased lipolysis, the breakdown of stored fat. Cell data only.
  7. Bhardwaj RK, Glaeser H, Becquemont L, Klotz U, Gupta SK, Fromm MF. Piperine, a major constituent of black pepper, inhibits human P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2002;302(2):645-50. doi: 10.1124/jpet.102.034728.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory study: piperine inhibited the drug transporter P-glycoprotein in Caco-2 cells and the drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes. The authors note that dietary piperine could raise blood levels of some medicines taken by mouth. Cell and microsome data, not a study of LeanGard.
  8. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Forskolin (About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products) MSKCC Integrative Medicine Service. 2023;Web monograph, last updated June 2, 2023..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (clinical herb monograph). Lists hypotension, tachycardia, headache and digestive symptoms including diarrhea as adverse reactions of forskolin. Advises against use with blood pressure medicines (beta-blockers, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers) because laboratory studies suggest forskolin lowers blood pressure, and with warfarin or other blood thinners because forskolin inhibits platelet aggregation in laboratory experiments. Advises avoiding it with polycystic kidney disease.
  9. NutraIngredients. Sabinsa builds science behind weight loss blend NutraIngredients (trade news). 2008;Published May 5, 2008..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (trade news report). Describes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week study of LeanGard in 50 overweight and obese adults led by a physician at Shifaa Hospital, Bangalore, with favorable weight and BMI results reported by Sabinsa, and states the study had not been published in a peer-reviewed journal at the time.