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Hoodia
Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More
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This information describes the common uses of Hoodia, how it works, and its possible side effects.
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.
What is it?
Experiments done in rats found that hoodia may reduce food intake.
Hoodia gordonii is a cactus found in the Kalahari desert and in Namibia. Local tribesmen consume Hoodia to survive long periods of starvation. Supplements containing Hoodia are promoted for weight loss and some cancer patients use them for weight control.
The FDA has warned the manufacturer and distributors of a Hoodia product against making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about weight loss.
What are the potential uses and benefits?
Weight Loss
A single study performed on rats showed that Hoodia can decrease appetite. But consumption of a hoodia extract did not affect body weight in healthy overweight women.
What are the side effects?
Headache, dizziness, giddiness
Disturbance of skin sensation
Nausea
What else do I need to know?
Do Not Take if:
You are taking drugs that are substrates of Cytochrome P450 3A4: Hoodia may increase the risk of side effects of these drugs, although clinical relevance has yet to be determined..