Hoodia gordonii
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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.
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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.
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Human Effect Matrix
The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects hoodia gordonii has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
| Grade | Level of Evidence [show legend] |
|---|---|
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Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials |
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Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled |
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Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies |
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Uncontrolled or observational studies only |
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Level of Evidence
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The amount of high quality evidence. The more
evidence, the more we can trust the results.
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Outcome |
Magnitude of effect
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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.
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Consistency of research results
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Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or
VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
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Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Notable
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- 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
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Minor
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- 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)
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Minor
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- 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
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Minor
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- 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
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- | - See study |
No significant reduction in appetite was seen with hoodia relative to placebo
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- | - See study |
No significant reductions in fat mass are noted, secondary to a lack of influence on appetite
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- | - See study |
No significant modifications in lean mass during weight loss with hoodia relative to placebo
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- | - See study |
No significant influence on overall body weight (due to no fluctuations in appetite and thus no significant fat loss)
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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
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