In two clinical studies on Hoodia Gordonii appetite suppressant, they have proved that this plant based pill is very helpful in suppressing the appetite. The use of Hoodia was played out with two controlled groups and documented on which lost the most weight. In the second study it is shown that the ingredients in the Hoodia plant are perfectly safe for human consumption.
These are the studies brought out by by Orien Lee Tulp, Nevin A Harbi, and Ara DerMarderosian of the Basic Sciences division of the London College of Medicine, Technology and Research department, 28 Enniskillen Road. Cambridge, England CB4 1SQ United Kingdom, and also the pharmacognosy division of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In a study about the effects of the Hoodia Plant on Weight Loss in Congenic Obese lab rats it states that the Hoodia Gordonii plant can survive and grow where other plants cannot and that the San Bushmen have been able to survive with no food on long hunting trips just by chewing this said plant. It is said to suppress hunger without depleting energy.
The study showed the effects on weight control and energy by taking different groups of lean rats and different groups of obese rats and placing them on a controlled diet of Purina chow for three weeks, after this they were divided into certain groups of equal number and were administered 2% of Hoodia extract while the others were not, all groups were then fed normally at the same rate.
No adverse effects were seen in the Hoodia rats but they did consume 50% less than normal in both the lean and the obese rats and appetite remained decreased after the study.
The body weight of the obese rats were twice the amounts of the lean rats and decreased to normal weight after 2-3 weeks of being on the Hoodia dose. The lean hoodia fed rat's body weight decreased by about 20% during the 2-3 weeks of dosing which showed it helped maintain their body weight.
This study proved that Hoodia Gordonii could be fed with no adverse or noticeable side effects in the patients and that in short term of taking the dose there showed a significant decrease in food consumption and weight loss
In the second study over the mineral content of the edible Hoodia plant it shows that the plant can survive and grow where other plants cannot and that the San Bushmen have been able to survive with no food on long hunting trips just by chewing this said plant. It is said to suppress hunger without depleting energy but the nutritional values have yet to be recognized.
To determine the nutritional content of Hoodia class, plant clippings were homogenized and dehydrated, and then subjected to mineral analysis by way of atomic absorption analysis. Carbon, Nitrogen and Hydrogen were consistent with a high carbohydrate and low fat content with a meno protein content of 5.0%. Mineral analysis of the material was found to average 6.5% Calcium, 5.1% Potassium, 0.3% Phosphorus, 1% magnesium, 1.9% Sodium and 0.7% Sulfur, and small amounts of micro- and trace minerals Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, Chromium, Molybdenum, Arsenic and Selenium in addition to other trace minerals.
Therefore, the Hoodia class may offer a safe and important source of many essential minerals and energy and also make important offerings to the micronutrient intake of native residents of the area.