Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) And Weight Loss: Fact Or Fiction?
 There's been a flurry of renewed interest in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for weight loss recently.
Not surprising, really.
I suspect this has something to do with the fact that Kevin Trudeau's latest book, "The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About" ”a book that has received huge exposure and is a top seller in just about every market—features a period of daily hCG injections for weight loss.
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Anything Mr. Trudeau "recommends" should be approached with a great deal of skepticism. This guy is a con man with a long track record of fleecing the public of its hard earned cash.
He's been fined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for making false and unsubstantiated claims (apparently, he claimed his coral calcium supplement could cure cancer) and banned from making further infomercials (click here for info!).
He is now being targeted by the FTC for his "weight loss" book -- for violating the previous court order that banned him for making infomercials for any other product other than books. This would be allowed provided he would not misrepresent the content of the books. The FTC claims his diet -- which is advertised as "easy and simple" is anything but. Click here to read the FTC press release!
For those of you who believe Mr. Trudeau is the victim of some sort of conspiracy orchestrated at the behest of the pharmaceutical industry, I recommend checking out any of the over 400 customer complaints posted at Infomercialscams.com.
If he truly were the victim he claims to be, it seems unlikely he would insist on perpetuating the deceptive billing practices his customers accuse him of (most complaints are related to his "Natural Cures" publication, but I'm sure you'll see similar ones related to his new book soon).
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Before discussing human chorionic gonadotropin's "place" in any weight loss strategy, let's discuss what it is...
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced during pregnancy. The hormone is present in the urine, and it's the presence of hCG that home pregnancy kits are "checking" for when such a test is performed. In a nutshell, if hCG is present, you're pregnant, if it's not... you're not.
Because it can also be created by some kinds of cancer, hCG can serve as an important tumor marker as well.
When human chorionic gonadotropin is prescribed in a medical scenario, it is either as a fertility medication (can be for both men or women), or to restore testosterone production in men.
But what about hCG's role in weight loss?
In 1954, Dr. Albert T. Simeons, a British-physician claimed hCG injections would allow dieters to manage easily on a 500 calorie per day diet.
He claimed that hCG could suppress appetite, burn stored fat as well as redistribute fat from the hips, thighs and waist. Unfortunately, he had no clinical evidence to validate any of these claims.
But that's not to say that hCG's role in weight loss hasn't been studied. It has. Quite extensively.
And guess what?
Not a single study indicates hCG has any benefit for weight loss. None. Nyet. Nada. (see JAMA 236:2495–2497, 1976, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29:940–948, 1976, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 12:230–234, 1963, S Afr Med J. 1990 Feb 17;77(4):185-9, West Journal of Medicine 127:461–463, 1977, Archives of Internal Medicine 137:151-155, 1977).
One study, "The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the treatment of obesity by means of the Simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis" (see Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1995 Sep;40(3):237-43) concluded...
"... that there is no scientific evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of obesity; it does not bring about weight-loss of fat-redistribution, nor does it reduce hunger or induce a feeling of well-being."
This seems to be the general concensus for hCG's role in weight loss.
It's important to note, however, that hCG is administered under the supervision of a physician (hCG is considered a drug and requires a prescription) along with a Very Low Calorie Diet (a diet providing 800 or less calories per day—also known as a "VLCD"). It is often accompanied by intensive one-to-one support. This is often referred to as the "hCG protocol."
We received a lot of angry comments from people (over at Real-Customer-Comments.com) who had used the hCG protocol to what they felt was a positive effect (these led to some interesting blog posts, viewable here, and here!). They felt we were "bashing" hCG, neglecting to recognize its role in weight loss.
Not so.
When hCG was tested, it was compared to a placebo which included the Very Low Calorie Diet. And yes, VLCDs work. You will lose weight on one. Guidance and support can also be very helpful for weight loss; that's why programs like Weight Watchers have regular meetings and weigh ins. Frankly, if you have to be accountable to someone for your successes and failures, you tend to be a little more serious about making an effort.
But what the clinical data shows is that when you compare the results of people on a VLCD and those on a VLCD and hCG, there is no perceptible difference—in weight loss, in perceived hunger, in anything.
In other words, it is the low calorie diet, possibly in conjunction with the regular support and guidance, that is responsible for the weight loss.
Not the hCG shots.
And even if it were effective, it would not be easy to obtain. You'd need regular intramuscular injections, a "friendly" doctor to prescribe it for "off label" usage, and it would cost you and arm and a leg.
Bottom line?
At this point, given the existing published clinical data that we have, there does not seem to be any valid reason to recommend the hCG protocol.
Have you used hCG? Share your comments and
read what other visitors have to say about hCG here!
Have you used human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)?
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