My Research of Clinical Studies on the hCG Diet

As you research the hCG Diet, 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. 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. Though hCG is a fad today, it has been around for centuries. It was first done throug injections.

Doctors W.L. Asher, MD & Harold W. Harper, MD published their study, in the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1973. 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."

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. "