hoodia Resources | hoodia, hoodia diet

Many Hoodia species are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert, ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib". The indigenous Bushmen call this plant Xhoba (IPA: 'ɡəʊbə).

Several species are grown as garden plants, and one species, Hoodia gordonii, is being investigated for use as an appetite suppressant.

Species

Medicinal uses

The use of Hoodia has long been known by the indigenous populations of Southern Africa, who infrequently use these plants for treating indigestion and small infections.

In 1977, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) isolated the ingredient in hoodia (now known as P57) responsible for this appetite-suppressant effect and patented it.^{citation needed]} The CSIR then granted United Kingdom-based Phytopharm a license, and they collaborated with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to isolate active ingredients from the extracts and look into synthesizing them for use as an appetite suppressant. Pfizer released the rights to the primary ingredient in 2002. Paul Hutson, associate professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, told the Wisconsin State News, "For Pfizer to release something dealing with obesity suggests to me that they felt there was no merit to its oral use".^[2] Pfizer states that development on P57, the active ingredient of Hoodia, was stopped due to the difficulty of synthesizing P57. ^[3] Jasjit Bindra, lead researcher for hoodia at Pfizer, states there were indications of unwanted effects on the liver caused by other components, which could not be easily removed from the supplement, adding "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." ^[4]

In 2002, CSIR officially recognized the San tribespeople’s rights over Hoodia, allowing them to take a percentage of the profits and any spin-offs resulting from the marketing of Hoodia.^[5] Hoodia gordonii is a protected plant which can only be wild-harvested by individuals and the few companies who have been granted a license.^[6]

Published scientific reports

One scientific study has been published in which the extract was injected directly into the brains of rats.^[7] No published peer-reviewed double-blind clinical trials have been performed on humans to investigate the safety or effectiveness of Hoodia gordonii in pill form as a nutritional supplement. The author of the rat study said that P57 was easily broken down by the liver, so it might be hard to take in enough of it to ensure that it had an effect. MacLean cautioned that currently available supplements might be inadequate, stating "I question whether there is really enough of the active ingredient in there to do much."^[8]

Press coverage

The press coverage and heavy marketing by nutritional supplement companies have created such a demand for Hoodia plants that a protected status was imposed in several countries like Namibia. Many products claiming to contain Hoodia do not actually contain the active ingredient alleged to suppress appetite. Only the South African product has the claimed properties. An ongoing review of Hoodia pills by Alkemists Pharmaceuticals found that at least half of the products advertised as containing Hoodia contained none.^[9]

In March 2006, Consumer Reports investigated the dietary supplement and concluded, "This weight loss drug lacks the clinical evidence for the Consumer Reports experts to recommend this product."^[10]

Marketing and spam

Lack of scientific evidence or regulatory approval have not stopped dietary supplement companies from marketing Hoodia gordonii extracts with claims that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the appetite. Goen Technologies Corporation's TrimSpa unit began marketing Hoodia gordonii under the brand name X32 with celebrity spokesperson Anna Nicole Smith, even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified Trimspa that it has not demonstrated that the product is safe or effective.^[11] Health Canada has not approved any hoodia products for sale.^[12] Goen Technologies has also been sued by the state of New Jersey for misleading consumers.^[13] The Trimspa brand is currently the subject of a lawsuit in California which claims that it does not contain any of Hoodia's active ingredient.^[9]

In March to June of 2006, billions of email spam messages were sent out concerning Hoodia, ostensibly offering Hoodia extracts for weight control purposes. As is usually the case with spam, it is not clear what prompted the sudden barrage of spam messages, since there had not been any recent positive media coverage about Hoodia, nor any signs of increasing public interest in Hoodia. The Federal Trade Commission has logged numerous complaints of consumer fraud associated with Hoodia and the number is expected to continue to rise.^[9]

In December 2004, Unilever entered into an agreement with Phytopharm to start marketing Hoodia gordonii commercially in the form of shakes and diet bars.^[14]

As of 1 July 2006, it has been reported on entertainment news show Extra that a company is now marketing Hoodia-enhanced lollipops.^[15]

There are many so-called "consumer research" websites claiming to show consumer reviews and testimonials. The legitimacy and accuracy of any of these websites are unknown. As with most weight-loss and diet related products, the consumer has a choice to buy or not. In addition to massive spam campaigns, there have been many reports of over-hyped and sometimes misleading marketing associated with websites selling and/or promoting Hoodia-related products.

References

^ Stevens PF (2001 onwards). Gentianales. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Missouri Botanical Gardens). Version 7, May 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2006.
^ Rath, Jay. New Drug Tempting Dieters, But Experts Debate Hoodia's Merits. Wisconsin State Journal September 5, 2005, D1.
^ Morris, Joan (March 9, 2006) Little research behind claims that hoodia is safe, effective for losing weight. Seattle Times
^ Bindra, Jasjit (April 26, 2005). A Popular Pill's Hidden Danger. New York Times
^ Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (24 March 2003) The San and the CSIR announce a benefit-sharing agreement for potential anti-obesity drug.
^ Thompson, Ginger (April 1, 2003). Twee Rivieren Journal; Bushmen Squeeze Money From a Humble Cactus. New York Times
^ MacLean DB, Luo LG. Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside. Brain Research. 2004 Sep 10;1020(1-2):1-11.
^ Duenwald, Mary (April 19, 2005) An Appetite Killer for a Killer Appetite? Not Yet. New York Times
^ ^a ^b ^c Engelhaupt, Erika (July 9, 2006). But do Hoodia diet pills actually work? Diet miracle from an African plant is a spam special. The Philadelphia Inquirer
^ Hoodia: lose weight without feeling hungry? (Subscription required) Consumer Reports 2006 Mar;71(3):49.
^ US Food and Drug Administration (March 26, 2004). Warning Letter for Weight Loss Products "TrimSpa Carb Blocker" and "TrimSpa Fat Blocker"
^ Hawaleshka, Danylo. Hoodia love: An appetite suppressant used by Bushmen is the diet world's newest fad. Macleans, August 03, 2005.
^ New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (October 16, 2003). New Jersey Sues Founder of Goen Seminars.
^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/outlook/story/0,,1383777,00.html
^ http://extratv.warnerbros.com/v2/news/0506/30/3/text.html

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