Hoodia weight loss pills are gaining popularity these days. Hoodia Gordonii, where the Hoodia weight loss pills are extracted from, is a leafless, succulent plant which grows naturally in South America and Namibia. The natives of these places have known this to be a good treatment for indigestion and small infections. It also used to suppress appetite when making long hunting trips – and it is for the latter reason that sparked some interest. However, let’s look into it more closely.
The active ingredient of Hoodia Gordonii is known as P57. Two pharmaceutical companies, Phytopharma and Pfizer, were granted license in 1977 to have this ingredient analyzed for commercial use as appetite suppressant. In 2002, although Pfizer was the first to release its rights for this primary ingredient it was later on stopped because of the difficulty in synthesizing the active ingredient. There were even results that it could affect the liver becomes of some components that could not be removed.
There are unclear evidences that Hoodia really works on suppressing human appetite. Even experiments have been conducted on animals and the result is quite the same. Laboratory tests confirmed that the active ingredient consumed is not enough to have any effect at all.
Environmentally, the plant Hoodia Gordonii is threatened with extinction if not monitored rigorously. It has even been confirmed by BBC in one of their reports in January 2008. Exporters of this plant must have the proper CITES certificates before they could take this plant out from its natural habitat.
Hoodia weight loss products come in pills, infusions or patches. However, it has been uncovered that most of these products don’t contain the active ingredient that supposedly suppresses appetite.
Hoodia weight loss products are yet to be concluded. There is no evidence yet that it could really suppress appetite and considering its detrimental effect on the environment, it should be taken seriously. For these reasons, I believe it’s much safer and wiser if we avoid this product until proven effective.
