Nopal – The Prickly Pear

Nopal is recommended as a dietary supplement for obesity, diabetes and hangovers. Does the prickly pear work?

The essentials in brief:

• Various dietary supplements are offered under the term “Nopal”, “Opuntia” or “Prickly Pear”.
• They are advertised as helpers with weight problems and diabetes.
• If you have kidney disease, kidney stones, diabetes, or are taking cholesterol-lowering medication, it is important that you speak to your doctor before consuming Nopal products.
• It has not been conclusively established whether long-term use of Nopal products is safe.

What is Nopal?

The nopal, also known as the prickly pear, is a species of cactus native to Mexico with the Latin name Opuntia ficus indica. Traditionally, the fruit is eaten raw. The leaf sprouts, on the other hand, are fried, boiled, stewed or prepared as a salad. Other products such as juices, cheese, honey, jellies, wine, brandy, germ oil or alcohol are made from the fig.

Dietary supplements are usually preparations made from dried leaves, stems or flowers. In addition, juice (concentrate) or powder for use in dietary supplements is also made from the nopal fruit.

What ingredients are in Nopal?

Nopal has a high content of fiber (roughage) and therefore has a digestive effect and is slightly satiating with sufficient liquid. When an isolated fiber complex is used, the insoluble fibers in the stomach bind small amounts of fat from the diet, while the soluble fibers form a gel with water, which encloses this fat-fiber complex. This is simply eliminated later.

The fruits of the prickly pear provide 3.6 grams of fiber per 100 grams and minerals such as calcium (56 milligrams / 100 grams) and magnesium (85 milligrams / 100 grams) as well as plant sterols (beta-sitosterol) and flavonoids . It also   contains vitamin C   (14 milligrams / 100 grams). How many and which of the original nutrients are actually still contained in the preparations as dietary supplements cannot be said. If there is no corresponding information (in the nutritional label) on the packaging, the quantities are likely to be rather insignificant – unless the vitamins have been specially added, which is evident from the list of ingredients.

Certain dietary fibers contained in prickly pear are used under the names Liposinol, Litramin or Lipoxitral as fat blockers or fat binders in medical products to support the treatment of obesity. The study situation on the effectiveness is rather poor.

What is behind the advertising for Nopal?

Various products from the Opuntia ficus-indica plant are offered as dietary supplements under the term “Nopal” or “Opuntia”. They are touted as helping to lose weight and prevent obesity, as well as treating diabetes and lowering cholesterol levels. Nopal is also said to increase general well-being and contribute to the vitalization of various bodily functions. According to advertising, nopal juice is also said to strengthen the immune system, promote mucus dissolution in respiratory diseases and stimulate digestion with soluble and insoluble fiber. However, scientific studies that would prove these statements are usually not available.

With regard to the blood sugar-lowering properties, which is not the task of a dietary supplement but of a drug, the results of the studies carried out are contradictory, and the studies themselves do not have any good evidence. It is unclear whether people with diabetes will benefit from taking it. The European Food Safety Authority has evaluated the scientific studies on the influence of Nopal on blood lipid levels and could not confirm a connection.

In a weight loss study, participants who took prickly pear leaf fiber complexes lost slightly more weight than the control group. However, as with all slimming products , success after ingestion is not permanent without a change in diet. Nopal extract taken before a boozy night out is also said to mitigate the unpleasant effects of excessive alcohol consumption. However, there is a lack of high-quality scientific research that could prove its effectiveness against “the hangover”.

What should I watch out for when consuming Nopal products?

Little is known about the long-term effects, since most studies only cover a short period of a few weeks to months. The manufacturers are responsible for the safety of the dietary supplements. In addition, almost nothing is known about possible interactions between the various products, especially since the extracts are not standardized and each Nopal dietary supplement is composed differently. This can be particularly problematic for the chronically ill and people who have to take medication regularly.

Like rhubarb or spinach, nopal contains plenty of oxalic acid. Therefore, if you suffer from kidney disease or kidney stones , you should better avoid Nopal products.

Do you have diabetes ? Then you need to know that Nopal products can affect blood sugar levels and cause hypoglycaemia. Before use, you should consult your doctor, as the control or therapy may have to be adjusted.

Do you take cholesterol-lowering medication ? Even then, you should definitely talk to your doctor beforehand, as certain fiber complexes in Nopal products have an effect on cholesterol levels.