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Lots of Hoopla over Hoodia
Let’s say that
you are like millions of people in the UK, US and Canada that are
overweight, possibly obese. You probably haven’t tried the Harvard Diet –
“just don’t eat so damn much.” You probably don’t exercise 30 minutes a
day, three times a week. What to do? You go to your doctor, a gym, a spa
and even your friends for help. I’ve tried everything, you tell everybody.
Nothing works!
One day, you hear about a bold new solution. You can’t
help it because it’s advertised everywhere. Between March and June of 2006,
millions of email spam messages were sent out concerning Hoodia, offering
Hoodia extracts for weight control purposes. Hoodia is the most publicized
natural weight loss product in America. It has been featured on ABC, CBS,
NBC, BBC, CNN and in nearly every major electronic and print media. It is
described as a miracle weight loss supplement guaranteed to help you lose
weight. Hey, you reason, they wouldn’t advertise it if it wasn’t true,
would they?
So you go to the internet and discover that there are
lots (hundreds) of hoodia products available, including, but not limited to,
Hoodithin ($60 per bottle), Desert Burn ($60), SuperiorHoodia ($60),
HoodiaElite ($60), HoodiTrim ($55), HoodiaXR, ($50), HoodiBurn ($50) Tru
Hoodia Diet ($48), Optimium Hoodia ($45), HoodiSpray ($49), Hoodia Gordonii
Plus ($40), HoodiaKing ($40), H57 ($40), Pure Hoodia ($40) Hoodia X57 ($40)
and sab-hoodia ($30). They are just the tip of the iceberg.
Well, you reason, guaranteed miracle weight loss
supplements are not going to be cheap. But what
exactly is hoodia?
Most websites state that authentic hoodia is one
of the rarest botanicals in the world. It is a cactus like plant that
grows exclusively in South Africa. Hoodia gordonii grows in clumps
of green upright stems and is actually a succulent, not a cactus. It takes
about 5 years before hoodia's pale purple flowers appear and the plant can
be harvested. Although there are 20 types of hoodia, only hoodia gordonii is
supposed to contain the natural appetite suppressant.
In the
beginning
The most often
quoted scientific claim for Hoodia is that of Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes
fame. She and a camera crew traveled to Africa, and hired a local San
Bushman to go with them and track down some. Stahl ate it and said she lost
the desire to eat or drink the entire day. She didn't experience any
immediate side effects, such as indigestion or heart palpitations. Stahl
concluded, "I'd have to say it did work." Another scientific endorsement
came from a well-known BBC correspondent, Peter Mangold. Even "Desperate
Housewives" actresses endorsed Hoodia. Goen Technologies Corporation
marketed Hoodia gordonii under the brand name X32, which was endorsed by
Anna Nicole Smith.
Most websites selling Hoodia will tell you that scientists have isolated
several compounds in Hoodia that help suppress appetite. One of these is a
molecule called P57 that is supposedly 10,000 times as active as glucose. It
goes to the mid-brain and tricks it into thinking that you are full.
The websites also claim that to date, there are no known adverse side
effects caused by the use of Hoodia.
Another bit of scientific data is the special claim by the manufacturer or
distributor that their brand is best. At the end of each paragraph of text,
there is always a note to “Read more” or a “Special Note” to provide the
consumer with extra information about the product. For example: one claim
reported “there are several high quality Hoodia pills available that deliver
positive results…taking Hoodia in liquid extract form may achieve faster and
more effective results. Liquid extract products deliver a higher
concentration of active compounds per dosage and because these active
compounds are pre-extracted (up to 97%), they do not have to be digested as
pills do”. Another ad stated that Liquid Extracts are 10 times more
effective than pills.
In December 2004, Unilever entered into an agreement with Phytopharm to
start marketing Hoodia gordonii commercially in the form of shakes and diet
bars. On February 17, 2006, a U.S. trademark was issued to an American
individual for a Hoodia gordonii protein shake called "Hoodia Shake." In
May, Power Pops, containing hoodia, were released. Michael Wenninger,
co-owner of a nutrition company, claims that Hoodia enters the bloodstream
and is the key to suppressing appetite. The critical difference between the
Power Pops and other Hoodia products is "the South Africans never ground
it up and made pills or caplets or tablets out of it. We have the only
form of Hoodia the way the South Africans take it. By sucking it; that's why
it's so effective." As of April 2007, Hoodia gordonii products were being
marketed in a variety of formats, including capsules, tablets, liquid
tinctures, coffee and tea products, syrups, protein shakes and even
diet
fruit bars.
Two Sides to Every Truth
Claim:
Many "consumer research" websites show consumer reviews and testimonials.
For example, Strictly Health, the makers of Hoodoba, claim to be the ONLY
company willing to subject themselves to random clinical testing by an
independent laboratory to continually prove each and every bottle of Hoodoba
contains 100% Pure South African Hoodia gordonii. They claim that Hoodoba®
Hoodia is naturally organic and vegetarian, has no stimulants or
stimulant-effects caused by caffeine or ephedra to make the heart race or
your stomach queasy. Strictly Health claims that clinical trials revealed
that with Hoodia it’s possible to reduce your daily intake by 1000 calories
per day. Finally, the company asserts that “We are so confident that we
offer the safest, most effective, results-oriented weight loss product that
you'll ever use, that Hoodoba® comes with a full No-Nonsense, 30 Day
Money-Back Guarantee!” Phytopharm, a U.K.-based company developing hoodia
weight loss products with Unilever, makes essentially the same claims.
Fact: Most of the Hoodia ads and television commercials feature
smiling, young, thin actors wearing white lab coats promising a miracle in a
single pill that suppresses appetite and makes dieting a snap. The accuracy
of data on these websites is unknown. There are currently four independent
labs conducting tests to verify Hoodia gordonii in consumer products. They
are: Advanced Laboratories, Inc. in Smithfield, NC, Alkemist
Pharmaceuticals, Chromadex Labs of Costa Mesa, CA. and The University of
Mississippi. Sidney Sudberg, director of Alkemists Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
cautions buyers beware. In 2006, Sudberg's facility screened more than
100 hoodia samples and found as many as half failed quality standards. "Hoodia's
too hot an item to be lax about," warns Sudberg. "It's an easy target for
crooks."
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is also working on a hoodia
Standard in response to scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission of the
Hoodia industry and complaints by consumers of fraudulent Hoodia
products being marketed. The AHPA report is expected out in late 2007. Some
people have questioned whether products boasting of Hoodia actually contain
the supplement. Critics have argued that there isn't enough cultivated
hoodia to account for all the products claiming to have it. While
the plant grows in the Kalahari, it apparently is not easy to propagate in
nurseries or in commercial fields. Michael McGuffin, president of the AHPA,
reported that “if you decide to try hoodia, buy it at a reputable store and
buy a reputable brand. If it seems too cheap to be good, it probably is.”
Allison McCutcheon, a medicinal botanist at the University of British
Columbia reported that what makes Hoodia so popular is the unmistakable
whiff of plausibility. "There's an ethno-botany behind hoodia that gives you
some reason to think maybe there's something here….On the other hand, when I
look at the science, I'm amazed at the types of claims that are being
made."
Richard M. Goldfarb, MD, a doctor and medical director of Bucks County
Clinical Research in Morrisville, Pa., conducted a preliminary efficacy
study of Hoodia gordonii on 7 people and found it effective. The seven
overweight participants' starting weights ranged from 193 to 345 pounds.
They lost, on average, 3.3% of their body weight, Goldfarb says. The median
loss over the 28-day study was 10 pounds. Goldfarb says he is trying to
recruit more people for a larger study. Before you get too excited, and
start believing that this is bonafide, unbiased proof, you should know that
his report was sponsored by a Hoodia manufacturer and his report has
not been published in any peer-reviewed journals. Despite this, Dr.
Goldfarb’s report is widely touted as proof of the effectiveness of Hoodia.
Claim: What authenticates real Hoodia gordonii is the CITES
certificate from the office of Western Cape Nature. The South African
government has strictly regulated the exportation of hoodia to the rest
of the world. A CITES certificate is required to legally export hoodia
gordonii from South Africa. CITES is an international agreement between
countries. Its mission is to protect and regulate international trade of
wild animals and plants. Hoodia gordonii is one of those plants protected by
CITES.
Fact: Many of the documents being presented with hoodia products
are not real. These documents are issued in South Africa and do not
assure the quality or purity of the hoodia, especially by the time it is
bottled and in the market place. Genuine documents should include
independent lab reports verifying authenticity and quality of the hoodia.
Claim: P57 is the ingredient that tricks the mind into believing the
body is full.
Fact: One scientific study was published on the effect of P57
injected directly into the brains of rats. Paul Hutson, associate professor
in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy noted that the
extract was easily broken down by the liver and it might be hard to take
in enough of it to ensure that it had an effect. D.B. MacLean, in Brain
Research, 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. In 1997 a British firm, Phytopharm,
partnered with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to patent and develop
Hoodia's active ingredient, P57. Pfizer released the rights to the primary
ingredient about three years ago. Professor Hutson commented "for Pfizer to
release something dealing with obesity suggests to me that they felt there
was no merit to its oral use." He later noted that consumers should go easy
on the Hoodia. P57 apparently is related in structure to the drug digoxin,
which has potentially lethal effects on the heart. He wrote “I can't
find any evidence that Hoodia is toxic. However, given the similarities,
however vague they are, I would be concerned."
Pam Wadler, a spokesperson for JEC Nutrition, the New Jersey-based
distributor of H57 Hoodia, explained H57 has its name because it is an easy
way for the consumer to remember that our product is the real South African
hoodia gordonii." She would not, however, say whether the product actually
contained P57.
Claim: You do not need a prescription to use HoodiBurn but you may
want to consult your physician as with any weight loss routine.
Fact: You do not need a prescription to buy Hoodia because it is not
marketed as a drug. As a dietary supplement, it avoids the level of scrutiny
the FDA gives prescription drugs and medications sold over the counter.
Cheryl Myers, director of health sciences at Enzymatic Therapy Inc (a Food
and Drug Administration-registered pharmaceutical dietary-supplement company
based in Green Bay) explained that "Hoodia has not been allowed as an
ingredient in the United States….It is not technically legal to import
it as a dietary supplement.”
Adrienne Youdim, MD, medical director of the Comprehensive Weight Loss
Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Michael Steelman, MD, chairman of
the board of trustees of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians do not
recommend Hoodia to obese patients. Youdim has gone on record saying,
"There is no published scientific data to support its use."
Experts at the Mayo Clinic reported in March 2006 that there was no
conclusive evidence to support Hoodia’s claim of appetite suppression.
Claim: Hoodia Gordonii is all-natural and has no known side effects
and no ephedrine. It is possibly the safest, most effective and powerful
appetite suppressant in history.
Fact: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified Trimspa that it
has not demonstrated that claims for their product are scientifically
supportable. The company has been sued by the state of New Jersey for
misleading consumers. The Trimspa brand is currently the subject of a
lawsuit in California which claims that it does not contain any of Hoodia's
active ingredients. Some hoodia supplements don’t have any Hoodia in it at
all says Cheryl Myers, director of health sciences at Enzymatic Therapy Inc.
Pam Wilson, chief clinical dietitian at the San Ramon, California, Regional
Medical Center has expressed concerned about Hoodia. The only known clinical
study was conducted on rats, and because Hoodia is considered an appetite
suppressant that affects the body centrally, there are unknown risks to the
body’s organs, nervous and circulatory systems. Hoodia may be as safe as
purified water, but without research, Wilson says, we don't know.
On March 9, 2006, the Seattle Times quoted Jasjit S. Bindra, PhD, former
researcher for Hoodia at Pfizer, as saying that although Hoodia did
appear
to suppress appetite, there were indications of unwanted effects on the
liver caused by components other than the active ingredient P57 that could
not easily be removed during processing. "Clearly, hoodia has a long way
to go before it can earn approval from the Food and Drug Administration.”
Health Canada hasn't approved any Hoodia products for sale and says
it plans to investigate whether Trimspa's X32 is okay for consumers. It also
plans to have a close look at the advertising claims. Ottawa, however, is
currently facing a huge backlog in its review process and can't keep up with
all the Hoodia concoctions flooding the market.
Claim: Take 1 capsule before lunch and dinner with an 8oz glass of
water. Since every person differs in their weight, lifestyle and metabolism
you may require more or less HoodiBurn to get the desired effect. If you
find that you are still overly hungry try taking 2 capsules before lunch and
2 capsules before dinner to control you appetite. Be sure to drink at least
eight 8oz glasses of water per day as Hoodia has been known to decrease you
thirst as well as your appetite.
Fact: Cheryl Meyers noted that “you might have to eat it as a potted
plant instead of a pill. Remember, this comes from a food source. Hoodia for
many people takes a fair chunk. It may be that you have to eat it to get it
to work.”
Claim: Every individual is different. To lose weight you must do one
thing, burn more calories than you take in. As with every effective weight
loss regimen, you must eat right and exercise to lose weight. HoodiBurn
helps this process by keeping your hunger under control. Try exercising 1 or
2 times per day to speed your weight loss.
Fact: Most doctors would agree that eating less and exercising more
are the keys to successful weight loss. While this is true, a lot of us are
waiting the next miracle pill because it's easier than dieting and working
out.
The following is taken verbatim from Prestiva’s Hoodia World at
http://hoodia.prestiva.com/
The Eight Ways an Educated Consumer can Avoid Fake Hoodia
Products
Rule #1: The hoodia product must be authenticated by a current
verifiable Independent Lab Report (almost always performed by Alkemists
Pharmceuticals) verifying the origin and quality of the hoodia in the
product. The report should have a Lot Number verifying that the batch tested
corresponds with the Lot Number on the product label. The report should be
no older than six months.
Rule #2: The hoodia product must display a C.I.T.E.S Certificate
showing the Country of origin as South Africa. This Certificate assures that
the raw material being processed into product is authentic South African
hoodia. Make sure that the Certificate is clear and legible and not a
counterfeit. The date on the Certificate should be no more than six months
old.
Rule #3: Avoid any product that lists fillers, additives, bulking
agents and any active ingredients other than hoodia. The label should
state that the product consists solely of 100% pure hoodia.
Rule #4: Avoid products claiming to contain large amounts of hoodia
in each pill or dosage. They are either making false claims or have been
dramatically diluted with fillers. The fact is an average person would
become sick if they consumed more than 800mgs of real hoodia at one time.
Rule #5: Avoid gimmick type products such as hoodia patches, gum,
tea, coffee and shakes. They are simply a waste of your money.
Rule #6: Avoid any products being sold at cheap prices. Real South
African hoodia gordonii is very expensive. The price to manufacturers is
$250 to $400 per kilo and products being sold at cheap prices are not the
real thing.
Rule #7: Beware of FREE TRIAL offers for hoodia currently
plastered all over the Internet. These are all promotional gimmicks and many
are outright SCAMS. By accepting the free offer, you agree to receive hoodia
products on an ongoing basis and your credit card will be automatically
charged every month without you initiating the purchase. One study found
that the hoodia was not real in most of the FREE TRIAL offers. Moreover, it
was almost impossible to get the companies to stop shipping the product
and stop charging your credit cards.
Rule #8: Select an established company that shows verifiable
credentials. The company website should have:
-
a toll free
number to ask questions, or place an order
-
the actual
address of the company
-
independent
testing of their products for purity, contaminants, etc.
-
a defined refund
policy.
-
a better business
bureau seal with a link to the bbb site where you can learn about the
credibility and rating of the company
-
a customer
service phone number, not just an email address
Resources
Doheney, Kathleen. Sept 6, 2006. Hoodia: Lots of Hoopla, Little Science; Few
studies support the promise of the South African appetite suppressant, but
believers abound. WebMD.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/hoodia-lots-of-hoopla-little-science?page=1
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.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15312781&dopt=Abstract
Morris, Joan. March 9, 2006. Little research behind claims that hoodia is
safe, effective for losing weight. Seattle Times Health Section.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2002850423_healthhoodia08.html
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (October 16, 2003). New Jersey
Sues Founder of Goen Seminars.
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/press/goen.htm
Tomlinson, Heather. Prickly solution to obesity? Guardian Weekly:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/outlook/story/0,,
Wong Kathy. October 2006. Hoodia Gordonii Review. About.Com:
Alternative
Medicine.
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/hoodia1.htm#
----------------. October 2006. What are Hoodia’s Side Effects?
About.Com:
Alternative Medicine.
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/hoodia/a/hoodiasideeff.htm
US Food and Drug Administration (March 26, 2004). Warning Letter for Weight
Loss Products "TrimSpa Carb Blocker" and "TrimSpa Fat Blocker"
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wl-ltr14.html
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