Hoodia gordonii is a type of succulent plant, similar to a cactus, that grows in the Kalahari Desert in Africa, according to Drugs.com. Lately, there has been a lot of media attention on hoodia for its potential as a weight loss supplement. One British company, Phytopharm, has even obtained a license to study and sell the chemical components of hoodia. Before you begin to try to lose weight using hoodia, consult with your health care provider.
Hoodia History
In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist was studying the San Bushmen, a primitive tribe located in the Kalahari Desert. The anthropologist discovered that the tribe members would eat the stem of the hoodia plant to control their hunger while on long hunting trips, says Drugs.com. Now, hoodia is sold commercially as an appetite suppressant taken by people who want to lose weight and by cancer patients for weight control, reports the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center or MSKCC.
How Hoodia Works
Phytopharm researchers have discovered several components of hoodia that may be responsible for the appetite suppression. One substance, P57, acts to fool your brain into thinking you aren't hungry, even when you haven't eaten. It's said to delay your feeling of being hungry and causes you to lose interest in food, according to Drugs.com.
Research
Hoodia has been studied to learn about the mechanism causing hoodia to suppress appetite. One such animal and laboratory study was conducted at Technical University of Munich in Munich, Germany. Researchers isolated a compound contained in hoodia known as H.g.-12, a steroid glycoside that is responsible for the reaction. They were then able to discover in greater detail how the compound works to control appetite by causing the intestines to send messages of being full to the brain. More research needs to be done to confirm this result in human test subjects. The results of the study were published in the October 2010 issue of "American Journal of Physiology."
Considerations
The FDA has forced several manufacturers of hoodia supplements to stop making unsubstantiated claims about the weight loss results from taking it, says MSKCC. Drugs.com reports that a few hoodia supplements have been found contaminated by toxic metals. The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine cautions that some products sold as hoodia supplements have been found to contain no hoodia at all. Since hoodia hasn't yet been fully studied for safety, the full effects of taking it are unknown.
Potential Side Effects/Interactions
You can find hoodia in powder, capsule, chewable tablet, liquid extract and tea forms, says the NCCAM. These products are made from the dried roots and stems of the hoodia plant. Some hoodia products also contain other herbs such as green tea. You should only buy hoodia supplements from reputable sources, to help avoid potential contamination or other health problems.
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