HGC Diet

[Hagrok]

Hey guys, a friend of mine's mom has just gotten on a diet involving injections of somthing called "human Chorio-Gonadotropin". Apparently this is not approved for weight reduction by the FDA, and the AMA also recommends against it (apparently it's been around since the 70's).

She (the mother) has gotten a doctor to perscribe HGC for dieting; looks like it's available for fertility treatments. The small amount of research I've done seems to indicate this is a Bad Thing.

Oh, and the actual diet they've put her on in conjuction with the drug is apparently 800 calories a day. This also seems somewhat.. extreme.

Has anyone here heard anything about the use of this HGC stuff for weight loss?

--Dan

{edited for clarity -- at least some semblance of clarity}

 

[Dragon]

Hagrok,

I think that you mean HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin which is a hormone produced by the placenta in a pregnant woman. IIRC it is what pregnancy test kits detect. I have no idea why it might be used for weight reduction. According to this link from a pharmaceutical company

HCG HAS NOT BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY. THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT IT INCREASES WEIGHT LOSS BEYOND THAT RESULTING FROM CALORIC RESTRICTION, THAT IT CAUSES A MORE ATTRACTIVE OR "NORMAL" DISTRIBUTION OF FAT, OR THAT IT DECREASES THE HUNGER AND DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH CALORIE-RESTRICTED DIETS.

(the caps are theirs, not mine)

 

[Dr. Imago]

Hagrok:

Which doctor is advocating hCG for weight loss? Here's what you do - report him to the New Mexico's office of professional conduct (assuming this practitioner, like yourself, is in NM):

http://www.state.nm.us/nmbme/complaint.html

And, this is all that needs to be known about hCG for weight loss, a practice (as you mention) that has been around and has been censured since the early '70s:

This deceptive practice is injection with HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). HCG is a hormone extracted from urine of pregnant women. It is approved by FDA for treatment of certain problems of the male reproductive system and in stimulating ovulation in women who have had difficulty becoming pregnant. No evidence has been presented, however, to substantiate claims for HCG as a weight-loss aid.

An article in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) in 1974 stated:

"No convincing scientific evidence exists that human chorionic gonadotropin has any pharmacologic effect in weight reduction. Hence, claims to the public that such effects do occur are a misrepresentation of the scientific facts."
FDA requires all labeling and advertising of HCG to state that it has not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of obesity. The ads must also state that HCG is not approved by FDA as safe and effective in treatment of obesity of weight control.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-822.html

I mean, heck. What will they think of next? Injecting urine to treat cancer?

-TT

(edit to add P.S.: I predict that, if your friend's mom stays on the 800 cal/day diet she will indeed lose weight, but these "miracle worker" doctors will attribute it to the hCG and not the low-caloric intake. Oh, brother... report these jerks, please.)

 

[Hagrok]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Actually, my friend lives in Texas, and I think her mom is in Oklahoma. I can find contact info for the local office of professional conduct. Whether or not she'll pursue the issue is up to her...

--Dan

 

[Rolfe]

This is nuts. Gonadotrophin releasing hormones for weight loss???!!!

Anybody know what bizarrely fractured chain of reasoning came up with this extraordinary suggestion in the first place?

Rolfe.