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Does Hoodia Work?
Hoodia gordonii is a very popular weight loss supplement, but does hoodia work? Here's the information on hoodia
that you need in order to decide for yourself.
What is hoodia?
Hoodia is a cactus-like plant that grows in parts of southern Africa. There are many types of hoodia, but only
hoodia gordonii is thought to be an appetite suppressant. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert in southern Africa
have used hoodia gordonii for thousands of years to ward off hunger during long hunting trips.
What is the history of hoodia?
In 1963, scientists at South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) began studying hoodia.
They discovered that hoodia gordonii caused a decrease in appetite and body weight in mice. They eventually isolated
what they believed to be the appetite suppressing compound in hoodia gordonii, which they named P57. The CSIR was
granted a patent for P57 in 1996. They licensed P57 to the pharmaceutical company Phytopharm in 1997.
In 1998, Phytopharm partnered with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Pfizer's goal was to make a synthetic version
of P57 to be used in a prescription weight loss drug. The project died when Pfizer closed its Natureceuticals division,
and Pfizer ended their partnership with Phytopharm in 2003.
In 2003 and 2004, the BBC and CBS's 60 Minutes did reports on hoodia. The reports were very positive and touted
the appetite suppressing effects of hoodia. The media coverage of hoodia took off following these reports, and hoodia
supplements started flooding the market.
In 2004, Phytopharm partnered with Unilever, the company behind the Slim-Fast brand. Unilever was interested in
using hoodia gordonii extract as an ingredient in a drink-based weight loss product. Unilever eventually decided not
to move forward with their product concept, and they announced that they were ending their partnership with Phytopharm
at the end of 2008. Phytopharm has been trying to identify a new partner that could help them in the development and
commercialization of hoodia products.
How does hoodia suppress appetite?
It's believed that the P57 in hoodia gordonii affects certain nerve cells in your brain, which results in your
brain thinking that you're full.
Is hoodia safe and effective?
Given the San Bushmen's longtime use of hoodia gordonii and the many thousands of people who have used it in
recent years, there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that hoodia gordonii is safe and effective. And Phytopharm, which
has studied hoodia gordonii for several years, feels it is safe and effective. But there has been only one known
clinical trial involving humans and hoodia gordonii.
Phytopharm conducted this clinical trial in 2001. Nine overweight individuals were given hoodia gordonii extract
and nine were given a placebo. By day 15, the group receiving the hoodia gordonii extract had reduced their average
daily calorie intake by approximately 1,000 calories and had a statistically significant reduction in body fat compared
to the placebo group. The hoodia gordonii extract was well tolerated by the participants and no significant adverse
effects were reported.
While the results from this trial were impressive, this was a small study that wasn't published or subjected to
peer review. Additional clinical trials and studies are needed in order to confirm the safety and effectiveness of
hoodia gordonii.
How can other companies sell hoodia when the CSIR holds the patent on P57?
Hoodia supplement companies take the position that while the CSIR owns the patent on the P57 compound, the hoodia
gordonii plant itself cannot be patented, therefore, they have a legal right to sell products that are made from the
hoodia gordonii plant. This issue may eventually be decided in the courts, but for now there are plenty of companies
selling hoodia supplements.
So, does hoodia work?
After reading this page, you probably already know that the answer is maybe. Hoodia gordonii shows a lot of
potential to be an effective appetite suppressant, but until we learn more about it we just don't know for sure.
If you decide to try hoodia, you need to make sure that you get what you pay for. The weight loss supplement
market is loaded with cheap, ineffective products, and this is especially true when it comes to hoodia. Many hoodia
supplements are loaded with fillers and contain little or no hoodia gordonii. Make sure that you only purchase hoodia
supplements from a reputable company that sells high quality products.
Recommended Resource
Vitabase is a well respected company
that sells a wide variety of high quality, reasonably priced dietary supplements, including an excellent
hoodia supplement.
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