Hoodia Gordonii Plus is acclaimed by many as an effective appetite suppressant. It is derived from a succulent plant in the African desert, and for centuries indigenous people have eaten the plant to suppress the appetite during long hunting trips. But does the plant and its related products really result in weight loss?
While there have been inconclusive medical studies of hoodia on rats, there has yet to be published scientific evidence proving that it is a true appetite suppressant in people. Additionally, little research has been done to determine if there are any side effects of taking hoodia.
A doctor and medical director at Bucks Country Clinical Research in Pennsylvania, Richard M. Goldfarb, says he tested the effectiveness of hoodie on seven patients and did find it effective, but the results were never published in a peer-reviewed journal, so it cannot be used as official evidence that hoodia can help people lose weight.
Hoodia gordonii has become very popular in the weight loss industry in recent years, and is used as a primary ingredient in a number of widely-used weight loss drugs in America. Hoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny plant native to South Africa and Namibia that smells like rotten meat, but is used by indigenous people to help suppress appetite on long hunting
trips.
The buzz about hoodia gordonii began in 2003, when it was featured in a report on BBC news. It was quickly followed by a 2004 report on 60 Minutes, and has subsequently gone from being in 3 American weight loss products to over 300! Weight loss products in the United States containing hoodia gordonii include a number of pills, shakes, bars, capsules, tablets, and
syrups. It has become even more popular following the ban of the widely-used but dangerous drug ephedra.
There have been no scientific studies that prove the effectiveness of hoodia gordonii in humans. One study showed that rats injected with the drug exhibited reduced hunger and food intake, and another study done on humans showed that people taking hoodia gordonii took in 1000 less calories a day than those taking placebos. However, this study was never peer reviewed or published in any prominent medical journals, so its credibility may be questionable. Hoodia gordonii has never officially been endorsed by any medical journals or publications, due to the lack of scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness.
A major issue with hoodia gordonii has been its safety in use for weight loss purposes. After hoodia gordonii was purchased by Pfizer for manufacturing and distribution, production actually came to a standstill because it was too difficult to put hoodia gordonii into a safe pill form. Shortly following the end of production, Pfizer lead researcher Jasjit Bindra released a statement saying that "there are indications of unwanted effects on the liver caused by other components, which could not be easily removed from the supplement. Clearly, hoodia has a long way to go before it can earn approval from the Food and Drug
Administration. Until safer formulations are developed, dieters should be wary of using it."
I personally took a popular weight loss pill containing hoodia gordonii for a period of 2 weeks. While I did notice an increase in energy, I also suffered from heart palpitations, nervousness, and excitability, and did not feel that my appetite was suppressed in any way. While hoodia gordonii may be an effective weight loss drug, it is not the safe way to lose weight, as rigorous trials on the drug done by Pfizer demonstrated. It is possible that hoodia gordonii is so powerful that there is simply not a safe way to synthesize it into a safe and healthy weight loss pill. Until the Food and Drug Administration approves a pill containing hoodia gordonii for use in humans, it is advisable to look for ways to suppress your appetite in more natural ways, such as exercising regularly and adding more fiber to your diet.
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