Is Hoodia Effective? The Jury Is Still Out

The latest weight loss fad is Hoodia gordonii and it is spreading rapidly by word of mouth and by the Internet. You may even have received spam email regarding this new weight loss supplement. Hoodia has been used by the Bushmen of South Africa for centuries to suppress their appetites while on long hunting trips. The Hoodia plant is native to the Kalahari Desert. You can find Hoodia in health food and discount stores and on the Internet. It is sold in tablets, capsules and even milk chocolate chews. The price is generally from $35 for a thirty-day supply. With sales of over $20 million in the past year alone one has to wonder – does Hoodia really work?

Hoodia is a succulent plant that has the appearance of a cactus. There has been very little published scientific data about Hoodia. The scientists that have studies the effects of Hoodia say that it tricks the brain into thinking you are full. It has not been determined that the effects are long-term. Hoodia is a dietary supplement and, therefore, escapes the scrutiny of the FDA.

The scientific evidence is inadequate but it does suggest that Hoodia does have an appetite suppressant quality. Also, there have been no reports of any ill effects caused by taking Hoodia. Reports published state that Hoodia contains a molecule, labeled P57, have an effect on the hypothalamus and is what helps to regulate appetite. Other studies indicate that a cousin to the P57 molecule may be the better solution as an appetite suppressant.

There have been limited studies of Hoodia on humans as an appetite suppressant but that has not deterred the belief in its effectiveness. In a study by Goldfarb of seven overweight individuals found that they lost, on average, 3.3% of their body weight. The average weight loss was ten pounds over a twenty-eight day period. Most of the study participants reported a drop in caloric intake of about fifty percent after beginning to take Hoodia. They reported no side effects from taking Hoodia. This study was never published in any scientific journal or presented in any medical meeting. Goldfarb is recruiting additional volunteers for a larger, second study.

What the initial study found was that Hoodia gordonii releases a chemical that is similar to glucose but that is up to one hundred times stronger. A signal is received by the hypothalamus that enough food has been eaten and this causes a decrease in the appetite. Another study by Phytopharm in 2001 states that the plant extracts caused a reduction of caloric intake by 1,000 a day on average. But physicians and the Mayo Clinic state that there is not enough evidence to support the claims that Hoodia is an appetite suppressant. Physicians remain skeptical and generally do not recommend Hoodia. On important consideration if you are thinking about trying Hoodia is to try to ensure that you are getting real Hoodia. If the price is too good to be true – then it probably is not a quality product. Be sure that the manufacturer sends their product to an independent lab to test and you can feel more confident that you are receiving a product that contains the Hoodia extract.