Prickly pear treatment

Nopal, a fiber whose effectiveness has been measured

Nopal is more than a traditional plant. Its effect on the absorption of dietary fats has been studied in several rigorous clinical trials, with reproducible and documented results.

Study 1 — 3.5× more fat eliminated

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial — 45 days

20 healthy volunteers (7 men, 13 women, aged 29–56) received 2 g of nopal fiber per day (500 mg × 3 meals), while the control group received a placebo, as part of a standardized diet (85 to 115 g of fat/day).

Result: participants who consumed nopal eliminated 3.5 times more fat in their stools than the placebo group (15.11 g vs. 4.33 g, p < 0.001), representing a fecal fat content of 15.79% versus 4.56%. No side effects were reported.

Study 2 — Impact on metabolic syndrome

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — 6 weeks

68 women with metabolic syndrome received 1.6 g of nopal after meals for 6 weeks. At the end of the study:

• 39% of participants no longer met the criteria for metabolic syndrome
• HDL-C (“good cholesterol”) levels increased by +4.3% as early as Day 14, and by +3.2% at 6 weeks, while the placebo group recorded a decrease

Meta-analysis — Overview of 4 clinical trials

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (Nutrition Research, 2014)

The pooled analysis of 4 clinical trials on nopal supplementation highlighted:

• Significant reduction in BMI : −0.69 kg/m² (p = 0.0003)
• Reduction in body fat percentage : −1.02% (p < 0.0001)
• Reduction in total cholesterol : −4.77 mg/dL (p = 0.04)
• Favorable effects on diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.00001)
  
  

Mechanism of action

Nopal fibers act through two complementary mechanisms. On the one hand, their porous structure allows them to physically capture some dietary fats and sugars in the digestive tract, limiting their passage into the bloodstream. On the other hand, by swelling on contact with water in the stomach, they slow gastric emptying and prolong the feeling of fullness — thereby helping to better control appetite between meals.

Preclinical data also suggest a beneficial role in the gut microbiome (modulation of bacterial diversity) and inflammatory markers.

Our formula

96% naturally sourced ingredients · Vegan · Gluten-free · Lactose-free · GMO-free · Made in France · B Corp Certified

Sources:

• Cactus Fiber Effective in Decreasing Fat Absorption — Natural Health Research
• Usefulness of Opuntia spp. on the Management of Obesity and Its Metabolic Co-Morbidities — MDPI Nutrients (2024)
• The effect of cactus pear on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis — ResearchGate