Hoodia Clinical Studies - What an Outrage!

Hoodia products seem to work for many overweight people. As a part-time researcher, my outrage is with the use of the term “clinical trial” or “clinically proven” in the marketing of what could be a great product for you.

Generally, in my opinion, the so-called “clinical trials” are pure hogwash.

Here's the foundation of the problem: Most people (and companies) use research just like a drunk uses a lamppost – for support and not illumination! The research quoted in the hoodia ads may shed a little light on the efficacy of hoodia. But it's more often used to prop up outrageous claims.

Instead of illuminating the potential benefits of hoodia, advertisers obscure the real value of this product by promoting useless scientific claims.

While I might not agree with or endorse all of the information on any web site I mention, I am grateful for one that led me to identify the earliest hoodia study which resulted in a U.S. Patent application.

'The first hoodia clinical trials, started with the CSIR research team at South Africa back in the 90s. Such research is the base for the claims made under the patent 6376657 filed at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in 1999, and granted to a group of CSIR researchers headed by Van heerden and others." (Source: www.hoodiacalifornia.com)

The successful patent application also provides guidelines concerning appropriate daily does of this plant extract.  This leads the writer/s at that web site to conclude: "Above comments confirm our suggestion to take a hoodia dosage of 1200 mg a day, specially when you are obese or overweight."

I read the patent application and couldn't really identity a proper dosage for this product, or extract or whatever. Further, why would you take any amount of this weight loss aid if you weren't overweight?

Here's another quote from a different site:

“To their amazement research conducted by scientists at the South African Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research showed the Hoodia gordonii cactus contains a miracle molecule that kills the appetite and attacks obesity, is organic, with no chemicals added and no known side effects. The previously unknown magic molecule was named P.57.”

Wouldn't you also be amazed by a “miracle molecule?”

The clinical study most referenced by advertisers is one conducted by Phytopharm plc. As stated in Phytopharm's own literature, it's business “is to take both simple and complex mixtures derived from plant sources into full pharmaceutical development." The Phytopharm study on humans was so convincing that a major pharmaceutical company bought the worldwide development and distribution rights.

Phytopharm announced they were starting a human clinical trial on a “miracle molecule” called P57 in a press release dated March 7, 2001. They announced in another press release dated December 5, 2001 that the study was completed successfully. The company stated, “Preliminary data also indicate a statistically significant reduction in body fat content in the P57 group compared with the placebo group at the conclusion of dosing.”

Here's how another advertiser reports this clinical study.

"Later, a human clinical trial was conducted by scientists in Leicester England. A group of morbidly obese men and women participated. Half the group were given hoodia and half were given a placebo. At the end of (the trial), the group on hoodia had reduced their food intake by 1000 calories a day. Given the average daily diet is around 2200 calories, this was a stunning success."

It was a "stunning success." Are you ready for the punch line?

All of the Phytopharm clinical trial hoopla about hoodia involved a grand total of 9 volunteers who took hoodia for...(drum roll here)...15 days. (Another 9 volunteers received a placebo.) So all the hoodia hype has been based on a “statistically significant reduction in body fat content in the P57 group” of 9 people over 15 days.

I wouldn't base any buying decision on what happpened to 9 people in England over a 15 day period.  Am I off base here?

So, forget all the clinical trial hype. Here's what I think: Do your own clinical trial.

Hoodia products seem to really help an awful lot of men and women fighting the daily battle of the bulge.  There seems to be a preponderance of anecdotal (testimonial) evidence that a hoodia product will help suppress the appetite of many people. Talk to a medical professional before adding anything to your regimen. Then try one of the products and see if it helps you.  That's all that matters.

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If you decide to try hoodia, I endorse and recommend UniqueHoodia.  It's pure, has all the proper documentation, and has an exclusive 6 month guarantee.  I believe UniqueHoodia is an excellent product and I will be compensated for its purchase from this link (as well as for any other products on this site. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

Hoodia Clinical Trials - The Real Scoop

Almost every web site I've seen featuring hoodia products touts the fact that it is the only supplement proven in clinical trials to suppress your appetite. While trying to figure out the basis for the "clinical trial" claims made by hoodia manufacturers, I came across this excellent article that will give you some background. Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Although this is a great background article, unfortunately, I cannot find any current contact data for Ms. Hamilton or I'd send her a personal note thanking her for this great material.

Note: Her article starts here.
Latest News about Phytopharm's Hoodia Gordonii Product

It wasn’t just media news that caused supplement companies to begin looking for hoodia gordonii supplies.  Press releases by Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company, about researching hoodia and side effects that might be associated with hoodia caused the initial stir in the health supplement industry.

Phytopharm has two operating divisions; a plant extract division and a pharmaceutical division.  In June of 1997, Phytopharm announced that “a naturally occurring appetite suppressant is to be developed into a prescription medicine by Phytopharm”.  This was to be Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product.  News of a naturally occurring appetite suppressant sent, not only supplement companies, but those who needed to lose weight searching for this “naturally occurring appetite suppressant”.  At that time, everyone expected Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product to be a prescription drug even though it was consistently referred to by the company as a “natural anti-obesity treatment”.  Their collaboration with Pfizer, another pharmaceutical company, to research hoodia and side effects that could be caused by hoodia use only supported the idea that Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii would be a prescription drug.  Now, since they have partnered with Unilever, not a pharmaceutical company, it is somewhat unclear what Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product will be.  They do seem committed to the idea that Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii will be superior to products that are currently on the market.

Phytopharm's product development strategy begins with what they call “proof of principle” clinical testing.  These tests are designed to determine if a product has the potential to be safe and effective.  Proof of principle testing of Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product began in March of 2001.   News about hoodia and side effects were released after this first phase was completed in December of 2001.  This was a naturally occurring substance and there appeared to be no side effects associated with its use.  After completing the initial clinical testing, Phytopharm’s strategy advances to the search for a partner company for “late stage development, sales and marketing”.  The partner company for Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is Unilever, manufacturers of food products, dietary supplements and over the counter medications.  One of their more famous products is “Slim Fast”.  Phytopharm is still researching and investigating the possibility or a drug to treat metabolic disorder and hoodia gordonii is the basis for this drug.

Phytopharm attempts to obtain patents for naturally occurring substances.  “Phytopica” is a Phytopharm product for the treatment of dermatitis in dogs and was just released in April of 2006.  Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is patented, but they have had more than a little trouble keeping other manufacturers of natural products from selling their own hoodia products.  In May of 2006, they announced that they were aware that other companies were selling hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant and that they believed that this could be patent infringement.  They said that they had contacted the appropriate authorities.  The problem is that a naturally occurring product can not be patented.  If Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product is unique and therefore stronger, safer and better than the hoodia products that are currently on the market, then how could there be patent infringement and why would they be concerned about companies that are selling what they imply are inferior products?

There is no comparison between the known side effects of hoodia and side effects associated with appetite suppressants that contain stimulants.  Products which contain both hoodia and stimulants could create a problem.  It is believed that problems with Ephedra arose as a result of being mixed with caffeine or other stimulants.  The problem was that this could not be proven without endangering human health.  Hopefully, Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product will be stimulant free as are many of the hoodia products that are currently on the market.

For more information about Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product or for more information about hoodia and side effects, visit the Hoodia Info Blog at http://hoodiainfo.blogspot.com.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor of the Hoodia Info Blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Latest-News-about-Phytopharms-Hoodia-Gordonii-Product&id=199793
This is the end of Ms. Hamilton's article.

I wanted you to have the background on the company which is credited for the "clinical trials" of hoodia. In my next post, I'll take you inside the details of the so-called trials and let you know what I think this product might be able to do for you.

Natural Weight Loss? ("C'mon man, I look good!")

A new study presented at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2009 showed an interesting fact:  Many people who are overweight think they aren't.

It all starts in the mind.  What is your mental picture of yourself?  Is it accurate?  Do you really look good?

"Almost one in 10 obese individuals are satisfied with their body size and didn't perceive that they need to lose weight," said Tiffany Powell, M.D., lead author of the study and a cardiology fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "That is a sizeable percentage who don't understand they are overweight and believe they are healthy."  You can read the article reporting on this study here.

Although about half of the study participants were men, I think the men in the study skewed the results.  Isn't it true that a guy can be way overweight and still think to himself, "Man, I look good!"

But if a lady is 3 ounces overweight, she is likely to think, "I am soooo fat."

Beauty and a slim look may be in the eye of the beholder.  If you're the one looking, about 1 in 10 of us who are way overweight think we look just fine!

Those with a misperception of body size believed they were healthy. But 35 percent of them had high blood pressure, 15 percent had high cholesterol, 14 percent had diabetes and 27 percent were current smokers.  They were less likely to see a doctor.  44% of these participants had not seen a doctor in the last year!

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 So, how do we tell if our perception of our size is actually accurate?  Here's a few tips:

• Look around - how do others look to you and how do they talk about their weight?
• Check with your very best friend.  Urge him or her to be honest.
• Look in the mirror.  If you can see hangover blubber, you're overweight.
• See a physician...soon.

One of my co-workers (about 30 years old) went to his doc to get the word  about his weight.  He came back to work and reported his physician said he should lose a couple of inches around his waist.  My reaction was he could have paid me for that opinion!

I know I need to still lose more weight.  I know my daughter does not need to lose weight (you can see her entire ribcage and she still complains about being overweight at every opportunity).

So, on your journey to a healthier weight, maybe the first step is to get real about it.  Getting real also means knowing how much weight you need to lose and whether you really do (or do not) need to lose weight.  If you have any doubt, get a professional opinion.

Acai Antioxidant and ORAC Values

The most notable (and fantastic) claims for the Acai berry is its ability to promote wight loss.  This fruit may well have the power to aid in dramatic weight loss.  However, the real value in this amazing Amazon fruit may lie in its powerful antioxidant properties.

The antioxidant properties in Acai berries may make a significant contribution to your overall health.

Americans just like you and me spend several billion dollars a year on antioxidants in an effort to increase overall health. There's a simple explanation for this.  Science has been examining antioxidants and their role in everything from preventing cancer and heart disease to boosting the immune system and slowing the aging process.

Like a protective shell, antioxidants provide a layer of protection for the cells and tissues of the body.  For example, antioxidants protect against free radical damage. What's the big fuss about free radicals?  Free radicals (generating oxidative stress) seem to play a very important role in the development of progressive diseases and aging.

The oxygen we breathe is continuously moving through the blood stream and transported to our cells.  Some oxygen gets loose in the bloodstream and produces unstable by-products called free radicals.  Your normal body processes, such as metabolism, can produce free radicals.

Free radical production can also be compounded and accelerated by environmental factors, such as pollution and cigarette smoke.  Imagine the abnormal, negative effects of smoke, car exhaust fumes, and massive soil and air pollution on our bodies.

 An overload of free radicals in the body causes damage to the cells, ultimately resulting in disease and accelerated aging.  Antioxidant-rich food may help prevent various cancers, heart disease, and diseases of aging.

A Diet rich in fruits, nuts, and vegetables has long been considered to be an excellent source of antioxidants.  In fact, nothing else can compare with a varied and complex diet derived from foods grown in nutrient-rich organic soil and conditions.  Unfortunately, that's pretty hard to come by in our fast paced, fast food world.

----The Importance of ORAC Values----

The antioxidant values of foods listed are expressed in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The ORAC value is expressed in micromoles of Trolox Equivalents per 100 grams of sample (this is the laboratory measure of ORAC).  ORAC measures the ability of foods, blood plasma, and just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in the test tube.

Studies at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston suggest that consuming fruits and vegetables with a high-ORAC value may help slow the aging process in both body and brain.

The early evidence from these studies indicates that this antioxidant activity translates to animals, protecting cells and their components from oxidative damage. Getting plenty of the foods with a high-ORAC activity, such as spinach, strawberries, and blueberries, has so far:

• raised the antioxidant power of human blood,
• prevented some loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats,
• maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a chemical stimulus, and
• protected rats' tiny blood vessels—capillaries—against oxygen damage.

These results have prompted Ronald L. Prior to suggest that "the ORAC measure may help define the dietary conditions needed to prevent tissue damage."  Prior is coordinating this research with Guohua (Howard) Cao, James Joseph, and Barbara Shukitt-Hale at the Boston center.  
For more information on this study, click here. 

The Acai (açaí) berry is the fruit of the açaí palm, is native to tropical Central and South America. The purple variety of Acai berry most often used commercially was found to have excellent levels of antioxidant activity:  against peroxyl radicals and good activity against peroxynitrite.  The assay for superoxide gave a value for Acai berries (freeze-dried) of 161,400 units per 100 g - the highest yet found for any plant evaluated to date.*

It seems antioxidants are critical to our long-term well being and that Acai berries are a powerful an accessible source of them. 

The real bottom line is eating a diet that includes a variety of fresh, deeply colored fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, sweet peppers, carrots, mangoes, kiwi, berries and cantaloupe and other plant foods, such as grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and split peas) and nuts, is the safest and most effective way to boost your antioxidant supply and reap the health benefits these substances may convey.

If you're not able to consume a large and varied amount of high ORAC-value fruits and vegetables, you might want to consider supplementing your diet with Acai berry.  Based on independent research, there is no higher value antioxident than this amazing fruit. 

(*Sources: Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Huang D, Owens J, Agarwal A, Jensen GS, Hart AN, Shanbrom E. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8604-10;Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods - 2007.

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PureAcaiBerry.com is unlike any other Acai Berry product on the market, offering 1500mg of high grade Acai Berry per serving, making it the highest yield Acai Berry product on the market today.  With a 6 month guarantee and containing all natural ingredients, PureAcaiBerry.com is an excellent product.  I recommend this specific product and will be compensated for its purchase from this link. Click HERE to go to the international corporate site.

 

Acai Berry Research - The Basic Facts

The acai berry (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) is a small grape-sized berry that grows only in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil.  The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits. The much desired acai fruit is only 10% of the actual berry. The other 90% is made up of the seed or pit.  It's important to consume a product that is made from the actual berry...not the seeds or pits.

The health claims made for the acai berry sounds too good to be true, don't they?   Most claims are too good to be true!   However, my research has uncovered actual scientific evidence that this particular kind of berry can offer significant benefits.  I'll cover some of those benefits in my other posts.  Today I just wanted to give you a very clear idea of what this product is, how it must be handled to insure you're getting what you bought and clearly say to you there are absolutely proven benefits for you - although maybe not as big and certain as some promise.

One of the toughest aspects of acai is actually getting it from where it grows to you.  You see, unless you live in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, you can’t just go down to the grocery store and buy a bucket of them. They are extremely perishable and spoil within a day of being picked from the tree.

Some of the methods that are used on the berry are those that preserve the berry so that it can be consumed later and 100% of its nutrients preserved.  However, there are other methods that actually strip the Acai Berry of its powerful antioxidants and the benefits are not quite as extensive as what the berry can actually provide.

In order to maintain the benefits of the berry, it must be preserved immediately upon harvesting.   The most effective means of doing this is a freeze-dried process.  Timing - doing it within 24 hours of the harvest - is critical to maintain the potency of the actual berry.   The manufacturing process is also a very critical component of delivering high quality.

Of the products you can purchase, you can buy Acai Berry dried, into juices, powders, and into capsule form.  Acai Berry Juice is great for making drinks, the dried form can make for cereal toppings, and the powders can also be used for a number of purposes, including making capsules.

When it comes to capsules, you want one that has 100% acai that is untouched, not mixed with other ingredients or diluted in some way. You certainly don't want a product that has been mixed with sawdust or some other useless, and potentially harmful, material.  That way you will have the maximum benefit from this amazing miracle of nature.  If you decide to use an acai product, you might as well get all the benefits for which you paid.

Here's what I think is important to look for in an acai berry product offering:

• The purity of the product must be absolute - no fillers or sawdust - and proven by independent analysis.
• It must have Certificates of Analysis (COA), which is the only proof that it is freeze dried immediately.
• The dosage available in the capsule should be high enough to provide maximum benefit.
• A product that has a certified ORAC rating.  High OCRA rating is a must!*
• A manufacturing facility that is certified by a third party .
• Certificate proving the product is organic (no pesticides).
• The company must stand behind the product and offer an iron-clad money back guarantee - preferably longer than 30 days.

*The antioxidant values of foods listed are expressed in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Do those requirements make sense you?

I simply cannot stress enough the importance of purity.  The acai product must be of the highest possible quantity for you to receive the full benefit.

Next we'll look at some of the proven benefits of this amazing berry.  For now, plenty of research supports eating a diet rich in antioxidants. There’s no doubt that berries and other fruits are a key part of any healthy diet promoting weight loss and good health. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.

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Watch What You Eat: Too Much Sugar Can Shorten Your Life

A recent study indicated a clear connections between more sugar in a diet and a shorter life span.  The study was reported in ScienceDaily (link below).

As you modify your lifestye to lose weight, remember that sugar does more than just add pounds.  It may also cheact you out of fun and productive years of life (Talk about a good reason to drop donuts!).

________________________________________________________

ScienceDaily (Nov. 5, 2009) — If worms are any indication, all the sugar in your diet could spell much more than obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers reporting in the November issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, say it might also be taking years off your life.

By adding just a small amount of glucose to C. elegans usual fare of straight bacteria, they found the worms lose about 20 percent of their usual life span. They trace the effect to insulin signals, which can block other life-extending molecular players.


Although the findings are in worms, Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, San Francisco, says there are known to be many similarities between worms and people in the insulin signaling pathways.

To read the full article, please click this link:   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103121605.htm