As you research the HCG Diet around the web, you will find information on both sides of the issue regarding whether or not the HCG Diet works or if it’s no more effective than a placebo.
There have been numerous placebo-controlled, double-blind studies done over the years. Some of these studies concluded HCG does NOT work better than a placebo for weight loss when following a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) as prescribed by Dr. Simeons in his ‘Pounds and Inches’ manuscript.
Other studies, however, concluded that YES, the HCG Protocol does in fact SIGNIFICANTLY affect fat loss as Dr. Simeons found in his years of administering the protocol to thousands of patients.
So which studies are correct? How can rigorously performed placebo-controlled, double-blind studies come to 2 different opposing conclusions? Which studies are to be believed?
First, it should be noted that ALL except one of these studies were conducted before 1991. Only one study has been performed in the past 18+ years, and that study concluded that the HCG Protocol works.
The following information should put the issue to rest:
Doctors W.L. Asher, MD & Harold W. Harper, MD published their study, “Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on weight loss hunger, and feeling of well-being”, in the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1973.
From the first paragraph of their study:
“Since Simeons (1, 2) introduced his method of treating obesity using human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), there has been continuing controversy concerning the effect of HCG on the program. Simeons and his followers have generally not claimed that patients eating 500 kcal daily will lose more weight when receiving HCG. They (2-4) have claimed that patients are less hungry and feel better because of the HCG and are thus more apt to remain in treatment.
There have been a number of literature reports of double-blind studies (5-9) concerning the effect of HCG on weight loss. Only one (8) indicated HCG may be of more value than a placebo. However, as pointed out by Gusman (4), most investigators significantly altered Simeons’ basic program. Both Simeons and his followers have vociferously maintained that strict adherence to the basics of Simeons’ program is essential if HCG is to be useful. “
Note carefully the highlighted phrase from the Asher & Harper study. Those that post around the internet that HCG doesn’t work must have not read that.
Proponents of the HCG Diet (of which there are tens of thousands all over the world) know it works because they have done it and lost the fat. Those against the HCG Diet cite the studies that came to the conclusion it doesn’t work, but conveniently IGNORE this important point:
If you alter the protocol, it doesn’t work. The studies conducted that came to the conclusion it doesn’t work ALTERED THE PROTOCOL!
Maybe there were other factors less sinister than what some propose, which is pharmaceutical companies sponsored these studies to PROVE the HCG Diet doesn’t work and that’s why they came to the conclusion it did not.
From the Asher & Harper study:
“It is conceivable that the activity of HCG preparations in regard to weight reduction could be related to a specific HCG fraction or fractions, or to urogastrone, or other unknown urine components extracted by this method. If this were the case, such “fat mobilizing” activity levels might vary considerably in different preparations and batches of HCG. This might in part explain the variability in results in various reports where HCG has been used.”
Read that last part carefully.
HCG is VERY DIFFICULT to produce. Perhaps the HCG used in the studies that concluded it was ineffective used one of these extraction methods that tainted the results achieved.
More from the Asher & Harper study addressing the issue of HCG quality:
“Another possible explanation of negative results might be the loss of activity of HCG with time after mixing especially if not refrigerated. It is probable in most studies that an individual patient received injections from a single vial which, after mixing, would be a minimum of 6 weeks old by the time of the final injection after reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, and should not be used longer than 1 week. Patients selected should be sufficiently overweight to assure they will not reach their desired weight before the termination of the study.”
From the Summary of the Asher & Harper study:
“The HCG group lost significantly more mean weight, had a significantly greater mean weight loss per injection, and lost a significantly greater mean percentage of their starting weight. The percentage of affirmative daily patient responses indicating “little or no hunger” and “feeling good to excellent” was significantly greater in the HCG group than in the placebo group. Additional investigation of the influence of HCG on weight loss, hunger, and well-being seems indicated.”
The conclusions from the above are:
- The studies that concluded the HCG Protocol, as described by Dr. Simeons in ‘Pounds and Inches: A New Approach to Obesity’, was no more effective than a placebo for weight loss were flawed, in that they did NOT strictly adhere to Dr. Simeons’ protocol, which Dr. Simeons himself said would affect the results.
- Additionally, it is quite conceivable the HCG used in those studies was ineffective due to its method of extraction, or the way it was stored and administered, or both.
A more recent placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted using an Oral formulation of HCG by Dr. Daniel Oscar Belluscio, M.D., Dr. Leonor Ripamonte, M.D and Dr. Marcelo Wolansky Ph.D:
This study concluded:
“1) Female obese volunteers participating in a double blind study, and submitted to the administration of an oral presentation of hCG plus a VLCD, decreased specific body circumferences and skinfold thickness from conspicuous body areas more efficiently than Placebo+VLCD -treated subjects. Since a significant fat proportion from total body fat is subcutaneously located (50 to 65 percent, depending on sex and fat distribution), this hCG metabolic activity would result in a reduction of the total body fat mass, the main cause for obesity. We suggested that the combination of a VLCD and oral hCG could not only trigger clinically significant changes in subcutaneous fat stores but simultaneously decrease body weight and modelate body contour.
2) hCG oral administration proved to be a safe and effective procedure on obese treated volunteers. No side effects were observed in the course of the study. There are no reports in the literature regarding this administration route to compare our findings.
3) Compared to placebo treated subjects, volunteers managed with an oral administration of hCG coped more efficiently with daily irritating situations, were in a better mood, and handled home conflicts without stepping up family discussions. This study appears to contradict former conclusions on the issue of hCG and obesity. We attribute those differences to a different approach, including variables not assessed in former publications. “
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