Quick Navigation

Hoodia gordonii

Hoodia gordonii is a small shrub (falsely said to be a cactus) that is claimed to suppress appetite. It seems the main bioactive (P57) cannot easily reach the brain to do this, and aside from failures of hoodia to suppress the appetite it may also be mildly toxic and imprudent to supplement.

Our evidence-based analysis on hoodia gordonii features 33 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by .
Reviewed by
Examine.com Team
Last Updated:

Summary of Hoodia gordonii

Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details

Hoodia gordonii is a small plant that is used as a famine food (to suppress appetite and thirst, to make suffering a famine a bit more bearable) and due to that is sought after for possible appetite suppressive effects. The first introduction of Hoodia to the first world (Europe and North America) was based on preliminary studies associated with the company producing Hoodia, and the lone independent study on Hoodia has noted that active dose recommended for a supplement not only failed to reduce appetite but was also associated with some mild and irregular toxic effects that need to be further investigated.

This plant appears to be a source of a large amount (well over 30) steroidal glycosides, and only one is said to be the activ ingredient (P57) yet most of the steroidal glycosides have no research on them. Due to this, the possible toxic effects in humans (confirmed in mice), and both the inefficacy on reducing appetite while having no other apparent marketable effects Hoodia gordonii does not appear to hold any promise for a dietary supplement.

Guidance from the experts

Learn what supplements to take for your specific health goals with the Examine Supplement Guides.

Want a deeper look at the research? Examine Members get full access to the comprehensive research database, monthly study summaries, and the latest in-depth analysis.

Your support allows us to be 100% independent and unbiased.


How to Take

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

Recommended doses of Hoodia Gorgonii tend to be around one gram of an extract of 70% steroidal glycosides or more, taken twice a day with each dose about an hour before a meal.

There is no evidence to suggest an optimal dose nor to support the above as being active, and the toxic dose in mice (as well as preliminary human evidence) is the exact same as the supplemental dose.

Easily stay on top of the latest nutrition research

Become an Examine Member to get access to the latest research. Get 150+ studies summarized for you across 25 different categories every month.

Members also have access to the Examine Study Database of 400+ supplements and their effects on 600+ health outcomes, as well as in-depth research analyses. Understand the whole body of nutrition and supplement evidence at a glance.

Get instant access — start your free 14-day trial

Already a Member? Click here to log in.


Human Effect Matrix

Unlocked for Examine Members

Easily stay on top of the latest nutrition research

Become an Examine Member to get access to the latest research. Get 150+ studies summarized for you across 25 different categories every month.

Members also have access to the Examine Study Database of 400+ supplements and their effects on 600+ health outcomes, as well as in-depth research analyses. Understand the whole body of nutrition and supplement evidence at a glance.

Get instant access — start your free 14-day trial

Already a Member? Click here to log in.


The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Hoodia gordonii has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.

Full details are available to Examine Members. Not a Member? Try Examine Membership completely free for two weeks.
Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-c
Blood Pressure
Notable - See study
The increase in blood pressure noted with hoodia gordonii in otherwise healthy persons reached 5.9-15.9mmHg systolic and 4.6-11.5mmHg diastolic; a worrying increase
grade-c
Bilirubin
Minor - See study
The increase in bilirubin seen with hoodia is thought to be a biomarker of possible hepatotoxicity, although it was not met with hemolysis (usually accompanies)
grade-c
Heart Rate
Minor - See study
Both heart rate and pulse rate are increased with hoodia ingestion, which are thought to be related to toxic effects of the herb
grade-c
Liver Enzymes
Minor - See study
ALP was noted to be increased in otherwise healthy women given the standard dose of hoodia, although the other liver enzymes were not affected significantly
grade-c
Appetite
- - See study
No significant reduction in appetite was seen with hoodia relative to placebo
grade-c
Body Fat
- - See study
No significant reductions in fat mass are noted, secondary to a lack of influence on appetite
grade-c
Lean Mass
- - See study
No significant modifications in lean mass during weight loss with hoodia relative to placebo
grade-c
Weight
- - See study
No significant influence on overall body weight (due to no fluctuations in appetite and thus no significant fat loss)

Stay on top of the latest research

To unlock the full archives of our Study Database and research analyses, become an Examine Member today.

Start your 14-day free trial

Things to Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Also Known As

Hoodia, Veldkos, Slimming cactus, Trichocaulon gordonii, Stapelia gordonii

Do Not Confuse With

Garcinia Cambogia (another ineffective appetite suppressant)

Caution Notice

May interact with enzymes of Drug Metabolism

Possible toxic effects (requires further study)

  • Possible CYP3A4 inhibition in vitro at a concentration that is relevant; no human studies have yet been conducted

Get our free 5-day course on the essentials of supplementation.

At Examine, our incentives line up with yours — getting unbiased information. That's why we don’t sell any advertising or supplements.

Join over 250,000 people who have learned about effective versus overrated supplements, tips for buying supplements, and how to combine supplements for safety and efficacy.

Research Breakdown on Hoodia gordonii

1Sources and Composition

1.1Sources

1.2Composition

1.3Physicochemical Properties

2Pharmacology

2.1Absorption

2.2Serum

2.3Distribution

2.4Metabolism

2.5Phase I Enzyme Interactions

3Cardiovascular Health

3.1Cardiac Tissue

3.2Blood Pressure

4Neurology

4.1Appetite and Food Intake

5Obesity and Fat Mass

5.1Weight and Body Fat

6Interactions with Hormones

6.1Corticosteroids

7Safety and Toxicology

7.1General

7.2Genotoxicity and Teratogenicity
Click here to see all 33 references.

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 33 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of research information and references for Hoodia gordonii.

Examine.com is intended to be used for educational and information purposes only. Examine.com and its Editors do not advocate nutritional supplementation over proper medical advice or treatment and this sentiment will never be expressed through pages hosted under Examine.com. If using any pharmaceuticals or drugs given to you by a doctor or received with a prescription, you must consult with the doctor in question or an equally qualified Health Care Professional prior to using any nutritional supplementation. If undergoing medical therapies, then consult with your respective Therapist or Health Care Professional about possible interactions between your Treatment, any Pharmaceuticals or Drugs being given, and possible nutritional supplements or practices hosted on Examine.com.

Examine.com does not assume liability for any actions undertaken after visiting these pages, and does not assume liability if one misuses supplements. Examine.com and its Editors do not ensure that unforeseen side effects will not occur even at the proper dosages, and thereby does not assume liability for any side effects from supplements or practices hosted under the domain of Examine.com.

Supplements

Articles

Health Topics

Membership

Protein Intake Guide

About

Never miss an update!

Your e-mail is safe with us. We don’t share personal data.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.