Use the following guide to learn about the dangers of this miracle weight loss drug as well as the differenet types of hoodia that are available. What is Hoodia Gordonii? Hoodia is a stem succulent, somewhat like a cactus, grown in South African desert regions.
The San use hoodia for a variety of medicinal purposes, but most often, they chew it to avoid getting hungry and thirsty during extended hunting trips. There are twenty different species of hoodia, but only hoodia gordonii appears to have the active ingredient p57, which provides the effects of an appetite suppressant. The South African government gained a patent for p57 and licensed it to a pharmaceutical company, Phytopharm.
Later, it was determined that hoodia was not economically feasible for mass production, particularly due to the inability to effectively grow it anywhere except the African desert. Case Studies. In , there were several case studies that examined the use of hoodia for weight loss and also noted possible negative side affects.
David McLean of Brown University conducted one of the studies. He noted that hoodia use seems to have an effect on the part of the brain that controls appetite. However, he only experimented on animals and noted that human results may be different due to different metabolisms. Two small human studies, one with seven participants and one with eighteen, appeared to demonstrate that the volunteers taking hoodia supplements dramatically decreased their caloric intake by as much as half.
Tthe volunteers demonstrated no negative side effects in either study. Other than these minimal studies, there is little U.
Considering the African bushmen, they have using hoodia for centuries to prevent hunger pangs without obvious negative side affects. Definitely not a medical case study, it could be considered an informal anthropological case study. In vitro anti-HIV and antioxidant activity of Hoodia gordonii Apocynaceae , a commercial plant product. Published Oct Antioxidants: In depth. Updated November Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Hoodia Used For? Side Effects. Dosage and Preparation.
What to Look For. Recap Despite centuries' worth of use to suppress appetite and boost energy, hoodia has not been proven to be useful for these or any other purposes.
Recap The amount of hoodia it might take to have any weight-loss effect can cause side effects ranging from headache to rapid heart rate. Get the Right Kind There are many different species of plants in the Hoodia genus. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. Harvey Anderson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto, applauded the new report in an email to Reuters Health.
Things did start out great for the herbal extract, which comes from the succulent plant Hoodia gordonii and has purportedly been used for millennia by Bushmen in the Kalahari trying to ward off hunger on long hunting trips. Lab tests showed it made rats eat less, and an unpublished study suggested the same was true for humans, according to the new report.
Phytopharm then struck a deal with the U. Evidence about the safety of hoodia also is lacking. Still, some dietary supplement manufacturers market hoodia products as a way to suppress appetite and aid in weight loss.
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against companies that have made unsubstantiated and misleading claims about hoodia and weight loss. In addition, the quality of hoodia products varies widely. In some cases, products have been found to contain ingredients that could be harmful.
Remember, just because an herbal supplement may be natural doesn't mean it is safe. Steer clear of products that make unproven claims. And always check with your doctor before taking supplements.
Brent A. Bauer, M. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
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