In 2003 there were three brands hoodia diet pills on the US market. News media coverage in 2003 and 2004 caused an increase in public demand for the products. By 2007, there were around 300 different brands being sold worldwide. Each one was promoted as containing “authentic hoodia gordonii”. For those of you thinking about buying one of those products, here are the facts.
Hoodia Facts
Hoodia gordonii is a species of flowering cacti native to the continent of Africa. It was used historically by traditional African healers for treating indigestion or slight infections, but only on a limited basis. Other plants were preferred.
The decision to investigate the plant for its ability to suppress the appetite arose from stories told by tribal hunters. The hunters were said to use the “meat” of the plant to curb their desire for food as they made long trips into the deserts.
In 1977, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research isolated what they believed to be the active component of the plant. It is now known as P57. In 1996, P57 was somehow patented, even though naturally occurring compounds generally cannot receive a patent.
Between the years 2002 and 2008, a number of pharmaceutical companies became interested in the mass production of hoodia diet pills and other weight loss aids, such as food bars and shakes. Pfizer, Phytopharm and Unilever are the main companies that have been involved, although they never released any products.
Pfizer lost interest when they were unable to synthesize P57. Mass production of naturally occurring compounds is not feasible. Marketing a weight loss aid worldwide would quickly deplete the natural sources. Being unable to make the active compound in the laboratory, Pfizer gave up on the idea of marketing hoodia diet pills.
Unilever’s official statement can be read on the company’s website. Their reasons for stopping the project included the lack of results seen in clinical studies. The company said that the products “would not meet our strict standards for safety and efficacy”.
The plant currently enjoys a protected status in many African countries. The number of plants that can be harvested is limited to prevent extinction of the species. Companies importing the “authentic” plants into the US must have a CITES certificate from Africa and a USDA permit to import terrestrial plants.
Independent research has shown there are dozens of “fake” hoodia diet pills on the market. Despite what the label says, they contain little if any of the active P57 substance.
Three companies are currently being sued by California district attorneys. Another is the subject of a lawsuit in the state of California.
When it comes to customer reviews, the supplement seems to work for some people. It does not work for everyone.
Side Effects?
There are no known side effects, but the extract is often included in a multi-ingredient formula. The other ingredients may be accompanied by numerous side effects.
This statement from Consumer Reports seems to be the best way to end this article. After investigating the claims, they concluded that hoodia diet pills lack “the clinical evidence for the Consumer Reports experts to recommend this product”.