Hoodia cactus: can it help you lose weight?
The hoodia cactus is a succulent that grows in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, and the San Bushmen have used it for centuries on long hunting trips to stave off hunger. Twenty years ago, it was billed as the source of the next big weight-loss drug. What happened in the end, and is hoodia worth trying today at all?
The hoodia cactus and the San tribe
Hoodia gordonii isn’t quite what most people think of as a cactus — the plant actually belongs among the succulents and can grow up to 6 feet tall. It has adapted to an extremely dry climate and is found mainly in Angola, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
The local San tribe, numbering around 100,000 people, is considered to descend from one of South Africa’s oldest indigenous peoples. On long hunting trips where food and water are scarce, the men would cut a piece of hoodia stem and chew it so that hunger and thirst wouldn’t get in the way of tracking. This tradition lasted for generations before anyone outside the desert noticed that the plant might hold something valuable.
How the hoodia cactus is supposed to suppress appetite
The plant’s active ingredient was originally patented by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The license was held by the British firm Phytopharm, and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer also took an interest in developing a drug. The active molecule came to be called P57.
According to data published at the time, hoodia extract could reduce volunteers’ daily appetite by up to 2000 calories. The number sounded astonishing — as much as a whole day’s average food intake. The mechanism scientists discussed went roughly like this: P57 acts on the cells of the hunger center in the hypothalamus and makes the brain think that blood sugar is high and no more food is needed.
The need for such a substance seemed great. More than 100 million people worldwide are at elevated risk of heart disease or diabetes because of obesity, and the weight-loss products market was already worth 6 billion euros. The hope was that a novel drug would reach pharmacy shelves by 2007.
Why the promised miracle drug never reached the market
The promised pharmacy hit never materialized. Pfizer abandoned the project fairly early. Phytopharm carried on for a while in partnership with a major consumer goods manufacturer, but eventually pulled back because the clinical results did not live up to expectations and questions arose about the safety profile. Essentially: if hoodia worked, it didn’t work cleanly or reliably enough to put in a package.
Meanwhile, diluted hoodia powder spread across the market as a dietary supplement. Independent tests repeatedly showed that a large share of the jars on sale contained almost no real hoodia at all. The actual plant grows slowly, needs protection, and genuine extract is expensive — which created fertile ground for cheap counterfeits.
The ethical side left its mark as well. Initially, Phytopharm and CSIR made financial agreements to develop the drug without consulting the San tribe. Phytopharm’s chief executive Richard Dixey later explained that the assumption had been that the local nomads had died out. The public was outraged when it found out. In the end, an agreement was reached under which the Bushmen receive a share of any potential sales revenue — one of the earliest cases in which indigenous knowledge began to be paid for.
FAQ about the hoodia cactus
Is it worth buying supplements that contain hoodia?
Short answer: no. The clinical evidence is weak, fakes are plentiful, and when it comes to weight loss, you’re better off investing in your everyday diet, your protein intake and regular training.
What works better for suppressing appetite?
The simple truth: fullness is kept up by enough protein at every meal, dietary fiber from vegetables and proper sleep. These are boring recommendations, but they work measurably and without side effects.
Is hoodia legal in Estonia?
You can find it in Europe as a dietary supplement, but Hoodia gordonii is a protected species and trade in the genuine plant is strictly regulated. Most weight-loss products you see in Estonian sports shops do not contain hoodia.
Author: Marek Morozov
PS You’ll find supplements here: https://turg.fitness.ee/et
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