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  • With Mayo Clinic internist

    Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

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Question

Hoodia: Does this dietary supplement help weight loss?

Is hoodia an effective appetite suppressant?

Answer

from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

Although hoodia is marketed as an appetite suppressant that aids in weight loss, there's no solid evidence that hoodia is effective.

Hoodia — whose scientific name is Hoodia gordonii — is a succulent plant native to Africa. Interest in its use for appetite control and weight loss was piqued because of reports that native Africans use hoodia to reduce hunger during long hunts. However, there's no solid evidence from scientifically sound clinical trials that hoodia aids weight loss.

Still, some dietary supplement manufacturers market products containing hoodia as a way to suppress appetite and aid in weight loss. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned manufacturers to stop making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about hoodia and weight loss. Evidence about the safety of hoodia also is lacking.

Next question
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References
  1. Pereira CA, et al. Hoodia gordonii in the treatment of obesity: A review. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2010;4:2305.
  2. Hoodia. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
  3. Bray GA, et al. Drug therapy of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
  4. Hollander JM, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine and the management of the metabolic syndrome. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2008;108:495.
  5. Cyber letters. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/CyberLetters/default.htm. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
AN01182 Oct. 15, 2011

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