HCG

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Is anyone currently working in a clinic that is using the Hcg diet and

injections?

Redican,RD,LD

[Guest guest]

,

I don't know of any RDs working with HCG. Ethically I wouldn't do it

because the weight loss is due to calorie deprivation from the 500 kcal

diet alone! Below are some references from my files:

Pat Bollinger, MS RD

Br J Clin Pharmacol.

<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Br%20J%20Clin%20Pharmacol.');>

1995 Sep;40(3):237-43.

The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of

obesity by means of the Simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis.

Lijesen GK

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Lijesen%20GK%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Theeuwen

I

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Theeuwen%20I%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Assendelft

WJ

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Assendelft%20WJ%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Van Der Wal G

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Van%20Der%20Wal%20G%22%5BAuthor%5D>.

Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

1. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess if there is scientific ground

for the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as adjunctive therapy

in the treatment of obesity. 2. Published papers relating to eight

controlled and 16 uncontrolled trials that measured the effect of HCG in

the treatment of obesity were traced by computer-aided search and

citation tracking. 3. The trials were scored for the quality of the

methods (based on four main categories: study population, interventions,

measurement of effect, and data presentation and analysis) and the main

conclusion of author(s) with regard to weight-loss, fat-redistribution,

hunger, and feeling of well-being. 4. Methodological scores ranged from

16 to 73 points (maximum score 100), suggesting that most studies were

of poor methodological quality. Of the 12 studies scoring 50 or more

points, one reported that HCG was a useful adjunct. The studies scoring

50 or more points were all controlled. 5. We conclude 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.

PMID: 8527285 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC1365103

Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.

<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Geburtshilfe%20Frauenheilkd.');>

1987 May;47(5):297-307.

[Risk-benefit analysis of a hCG-500 kcal reducing diet (cura romana)

in females]

[Article in German]

Rabe T

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Rabe%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Richter S

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Richter%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Kiesel L

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Kiesel%20L%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Runnebaum B

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Runnebaum%20B%22%5BAuthor%5D>.

Abstract

The British physician A.T.W. Simeons described in 1954 a new method for

dieting. He combined a reduction diet (500 kcal per day) with daily

injections of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

(125 IU i.m.). According to Simeons the patient should not lose more

weight during a 4-to-6 weeks' diet than without hCG, but the injections

should facilitate to maintain the diet and to lose body weight at

specific parts of the body (e.g. hip, belly, thigh). After the first

publication various studies conducted with male and female patients

analysed the efficacy of the " Cura romana " . 10 of these studies showed

positive and another 10 studies negative results with regard to

hCG-related weight reduction. Two of these studies with positive results

were double-blind studies (hCG vs. placebo). Most of them were reports

on therapeutical experiences and were not controlled studies. According

to these reports the body proportions normalized and the feeling of

hunger was tolerable. Four out of 10 studies with negative results were

controlled studies (hCG vs. control without hCG), whereas 6 were

double-blind studies. These studies showed a significant weight

reduction during dieting, but no differences between treatment groups in

respect of body weight, body proportions and feeling of hunger. One of

them is the only German study conducted by Rabe et al. in 1981 in which

82 randomised premenopausal volunteers had been dieting either with hCG

or without hCG injections. In recent publications describing mostly

well-documented double-blind studies authors largely reject hCG

administration in dieting. Supporters of the hCG diet must prove the

efficacy of this method in controlled studies according to the German

Drug Law. Until then the opinion of the German steroid toxicology panel

is still valid, that hCG is ineffective in dieting and should not be

used (Bolt 1982 a, 1982 .

PMID: 3609673 [PubMed - indexed for MEDL

S Afr Med J.

<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'S%20Afr%20Med%20J.');> 1990 Feb

17;77(4):185-9.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin and weight loss. A double-blind,

placebo-controlled trial.

Bosch B

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Bosch%20B%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Venter I

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Venter%20I%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

RI

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22%20RI%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Bertram

SR <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Bertram%20SR%22%5BAuthor%5D>.

Department of Medical Physiology and Biochemistry, University of

Stellenbosch, Parowvallei, CP.

Abstract

Low-dose human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) combined with a severe diet

remains a popular treatment for obesity, despite equivocal evidence of

its effectiveness. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the

effects of HCG on weight loss were compared with placebo injections.

Forty obese women (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2) were placed on

the same diet supplying 5,000 kJ per day and received daily

intramuscular injections of saline or HCG, 6 days a week for 6 weeks. A

psychological profile, hunger level, body circumferences, a fasting

blood sample and food records were obtained at the start and end of the

study, while body weight was measured weekly. Subjects receiving HCG

injections showed no advantages over those on placebo in respect of any

of the variables recorded. Furthermore, weight loss on our diet was

similar to that on severely restricted intake. We conclude that there is

no rationale for the use of HCG injections in the treatment of obesity.

PMID: 2405506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Am J Clin Nutr.

<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Am%20J%20Clin%20Nutr.');> 1976

Sep;29(9):940-8.

Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: a

double-blind study.

Stein MR

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Stein%20MR%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Julis RE

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Julis%20RE%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Peck CC

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Peck%20CC%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Hinshaw W

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Hinshaw%20W%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

Sawicki JE

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Sawicki%20JE%22%5BAuthor%5D>, Deller

JJ Jr

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Deller%20JJ%20Jr%22%5BAuthor%5D>.

Abstract

Our investigation was designed to retest the hypothesis of the efficacy

of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on weight reduction in obese women

in a clinic setting. We sought to duplicate the Asher-Harper study

(1973) which had found that the combination of 500 cal diet and HCG had

a statistically significant benefit over the diet and placebo

combination as evidenced by greater weight loss and decrease in hunger.

Fifty-one women between the ages of 18 and 60 participated in our 32-day

prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of HCG versus placebo.

Each patient was given the same diet (the one prescribed in the

Asher-Harper study), was weighed daily Monday through Saturday and was

counselled by one of the investigators who administered the injections.

Laboratory studies were performed at the time of initial physical

examinations and at the end of the study. Twenty of 25 in the HCG and 21

of 26 patients in the placebo groups completed 28 injections. There was

no statistically significant difference in the means of the two groups

in number of injections received, weight loss, percent of weight loss,

hip and waist circumference, weight loss per injections, or in hunger

ratings. HCG does not appear to enhance the effectiveness of a rigidly

imposed regimen for weight reduction.

>

>

> Just looking for some opinions on the Hcg diet. Is anyone working with

> this,or have patients who have tried etc....thanks

> Redican,RD,LD

>

> Jeff Redican

>

>