Hoodia gordonii, derived from an African cactus-like plant, is sold as an appetite suppressant supplement in the U.S. Hoodia may fool your brain into thinking that you're already full, decreasing interest in food and delaying hunger pangs, according to Drugs.com, but Hoodia's effectiveness and safety have not yet been proven in clinical trials. Before taking Hoodia, talk with your doctor to find out if it is safe for you.
Purity Problems
Not all Hoodia sold in the U.S. is pure. Hoodia, like other supplements, is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food, which means it does not have to meet the same strict requirements that medications do, so ensuring its purity is difficult. The FDA has warned several manufacturers to stop making unproven claims about weight loss. There are no manufacturing standards in place for products like Hoodia. Some bottles labeled Hoodia may actually contain no Hoodia at all, MayoClinic.com warns. Others may be contaminated with toxic metals, or may contain more or less of the drug than the label indicates, according to the website eMedTV Health Information.
Look for Hoodia that contains no additional ingredients, and look for the U.S. Pharmacopeia, or USP, seal on the package. The USP is a non-governmental agency that sets recognized industry standards for prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and other health-related products. The USP seal on the label indicates that the manufacturer voluntarily follows USP standards.
Diabetic Complications
If you're diabetic and take medication that lowers blood sugars, you need to eat every few hours or your blood sugar level could drop too low. If Hoodia suppresses appetite to the point where you eat too little to keep your blood sugar level in the normal range, you can develop hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Diabetics on medications that lower blood sugar levels should not take Hoodia without first discussing the drug's potential effects with their doctor.
Liver or Kidney Problems
Many drugs pass through the liver or kidneys. Hoodia's effects could change if you have liver or kidney disease, eMedTV states. Until the drug undergoes more extensive testing, exact effects can't be determined. If you have liver or kidney disease, don't take Hoodia without your medical practitioner's approval.
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