hCa

HCA is an acronym that can refer to several different topics. Among the most common are hydroxycitric acid, a naturally occurring compound marketed in weight-management supplements, and Hospital Corporation of America, a large American for-profit hospital operator now known as HCA Healthcare.

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a derivative of citric acid found in Garcinia species, particularly Garcinia cambogia. It has been studied for potential effects on weight loss, based on a proposed mechanism that inhibits the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, which may reduce fatty acid synthesis and promote glycogen storage. Clinical evidence for meaningful weight loss is mixed and often small in magnitude. Regulatory authorities have not approved HCA as a treatment for obesity, and safety concerns have been raised, including rare reports of liver injury linked to supplement use. Supplements vary in content and quality, and interactions with other medications are not well understood.

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) refers to a major for-profit hospital system in the United States. Founded in 1968, it grew into one of the largest private hospital networks, operating numerous acute-care hospitals and related facilities. The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HCA. In the late 1990s, it faced investigations into Medicare billing practices, leading to a large settlement and subsequent corporate restructuring. Since then, it has continued to operate under the HCA brand, expanding its network of healthcare services.

Other uses of HCA include Health Care Assistant, a common job title for personnel providing patient care under supervision.