The HCG diet is a diet plan that combines a very restricted diet with regular administration of human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG supplements. Increased levels of HCG can affect the way that your thyroid works, but there is no reliable scientific evidence regarding the effects of the HCG diet on thyroid function. Talk to your doctor before beginning any new diet plan, particularly one that involves supplements.
HCG
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that normally works to help eggs in the ovaries develop and stimulates the release of eggs during ovulation. The levels of human chorionic gonadotropin increase during pregnancy and elevations in this hormone are often used to detect pregnancies. Human chorionic gonadotropin can be used to trigger ovulation in women and to stimulate the descent of the testes in young boys. Aside from these medically supported uses, HCG has also been used as the basis of a diet plan.
HCG Diet
The HCG diet is a plan that combines a very low calorie diet along with regular use of small amounts of HCG, typically administered as an injection. Promoters of this diet plan say that the HCG causes your body to mobilize stored fat for energy use, which they claim causes you to feel less hunger and to burn fat more quickly than you would without the use of HCG. There is no reliable scientific evidence, however, that the use of HCG has any benefit for people looking to lose weight.
HCG and Thyroid
Human chorionic gonadotropin is similar in structure to thyroid stimulating hormone. Human chorionic gonadotropin has the ability to bind to the same proteins that respond to thyroid stimulating hormone, potentially increasing the amount of hormones made by the thyroid gland. However, no research has been done on the effects of the HCG diet on thyroid function and it is unlikely that the small amounts of HCG used in the HCG diet would have a significant impact on your thyroid gland.
Considerations
The HCG diet involves a very low calorie intake, often in the range of 500 to 800 calories per day. According to Jennifer Nelson at MayoClinic.com, there is no high-quality scientific evidence that shows any effect of HCG on weight loss. Diets that are very low in calories can be dangerous and cause malnutrition and gallstones. You should always talk to your doctor before undergoing any severe diet program.
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