The hCG hormone diet seems to be making a come-back and it's no wonder: Claims of 30 pounds of weight loss in 30 days are a dieter's wish come true. People who have tried the diet say the injections keep them from being hungry but proponents claim it is just the power of suggestion. Modern medicine may answer some questions that went unanswered since the 1950s.
The Diet
In 1954, Dr. A.T. Simeons observed that hCG encouraged fat metabolism during pregnancy and began using the hormone to treat obese males with pituitary and hypothalamus tumors. The hCG diet consists of 500 calories daily combined with daily injections of human chorionic gonadotropin. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who discussed the diet on his television show, anyone restricting calories to 500 daily will lose weight. This type of restriction is normally done under physician supervision and reserved for severe obesity or quick pre-surgery weight-loss. Proponents say the hormone acts as an appetite suppressant, making the extremely low calorie intake more tolerable, but Dr. Oz says the power of suggestion can also suppress appetite.
Research
Research that seemed to prove the first hCG diet craze ineffective was published in the September 1976 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Researchers conducted a double-blind study involving 51 patients divided into two groups, one receiving placebo and the other hCG injections, both on restricted-calorie diets. The results showed that both groups were successful in losing weight rapidly. The hormone offered no advantage over weight loss, fat distribution or hunger levels. According to both Dr. Oz and MayoClinic.com, subsequent studies have provided no positive conclusions supporting weight loss claims for hCG.
hCG Drops
Available in health food stores and online, hCG is being manufactured in the form of a drop to place under the tongue. According to Dr. Oz, the level of hCG these products is so low it is doubtful that they are effective. An article in "USA Today" dated January 2011 reports that the FDA's Internet Fraud Team states that neither the drops nor the injections are approved for weight loss and is concerned about the safety of the hormone's use.
Warning
A shortage problem is increasing due to the high demand for hCG, and it may pose problems for the treatment of endocrine and infertility disorders. According to Drugs.com, several side effects from the use of hCG include: the development of life-threatening ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, swelling in hands and feet, stomach pain, severe pelvic pain, weight gain, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of urination. Mild side effects include headache, depression, weight gain, breast tenderness or pain and swelling at the injection site. Consult a qualified medical professional before using hCG.
References
- "West Virginia Medical Journal"; There They Go Again -- hCG and Weight Loss; Roger C. Toffle; January 2011
- The Dr. Oz Show; The HCG Diet: Fact vs. Fiction; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Weight Loss; January 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Ineffectiveness of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Weight Reduction: A Double-blind Study; M. R. Stein, et al.; September 1976
- USAToday.com; HCG Weight-loss Products Are Fraudulent, FDA Says; Nanci Hellmich; January 2011
- Drugs.com: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
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