Study summary · research use only
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) treatment of obesity
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This human study evaluated human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in obese women. After a nine-day control period, six hospitalized obese women were placed on 500 calorie diets and given 125 IU of HCG intramuscularly daily for 30 days, while another five obese women received diluent injections on identical diets. The abstract reports mean weight loss in the HCG-treated group was nearly identical to that of the placebo group, with no differences in triceps skinfold thickness or circumferential body measurements of chest, waist, hips, and thighs. Changes in plasma and urine substrates, electrolytes, and hormones were similar in both groups and consistent with semistarvation and weight loss. The authors state HCG offered no advantage over calorie restriction in promoting weight loss.
Abstract
After a nine-day control period, six hospitalized obese women were placed on 500 calorie diets and were given 125 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) intramuscularly daily for 30 days. Another five obese women received injections of diluent only and consumed identical diets for the same period. Mean weight loss in the HCG-treated group was nearly identical to that achieved by women given the placebo. Reduction of triceps skinfold thickness or circumferential body measurements of the chest, waist, hips, and thighs were not different. Patters of change of a variety of plasma and urine substrates, electrolytes, and hormones were similar in the two groups and consistent with semistarvation and weight loss. These results indicate that HCG has no effects on chemical and hormonal parameters measured and offers no advantage over calorie restriction in promoting weight loss.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.