Does Hoodia Actually Work?

Separating the Kalahari survival tool from the internet weight loss miracle.

The Mechanism: How It's Supposed to Work

The core claim revolves around a steroid glycoside called P57. In theory, P57 works by increasing the ATP (energy) content in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates hunger.

Essentially, it sends a signal to your brain saying "I'm full," similar to how glucose works, but potentially much stronger (some marketing claimed up to 10,000x stronger than glucose, a figure that is widely cited but scientifically unsubstantiated).

The Evidence Gap

While P57 showed appetite-suppressing effects in rat brains when injected directly, translating this to a human popping a dried plant capsule is where the science falls apart.

1. The Unilever Study (2000s)

Unilever spent millions researching Hoodia. They conducted a double-blind study (which was never fully published in a peer-reviewed journal) that reportedly showed some calorie reduction. However, they abandoned the project because the safety data was concerning and the extract was hard to stabilize.

2. The Lack of Absorption

It is unclear if P57 survives digestion. Even if a capsule contained 100% pure P57 (which none do), your stomach acid might destroy it before it ever reaches your bloodstream.

User Experiences: Why Reviews Vary

If you browse Amazon or forums, you'll see a mix of 5-star "it killed my hunger!" reviews and 1-star "did nothing" reviews. Why?

• Placebo Effect: Appetite is highly psychological. Taking a pill can make you more mindful of eating.
• Hidden Ingredients: Some "Hoodia" products in the past were found to contain Sibutramine (a banned drug) or massive amounts of caffeine, which do suppress appetite but are dangerous.
• Fiber: Dried cactus powder is high in fiber. Taking 3-4 grams of fiber with a glass of water before a meal can increase satiety, regardless of P57 content.