HCG
Conditions
Keywords
hcg
Brief summary
Subjects are female patients, randomized to HCG group or placebo group, during a prospective trial, in order to determine the significance, if any, of HCG on maintaining muscle mass during a very low calorie diet in order to demonstrate the potential significance of HCG administration on preserving lean body mass while losing weight.
Detailed description
Four-week clinical trials were conducted on 59 females between the ages of 20 and 55, over an 18 month period. Exclusion criteria included thyroid conditions or prior significant medical history. Patients were randomized to receive daily subcutaneous injections of either hCG (200-300IU) or saline (placebo). All were placed on a VLCD resembling a protein-sparing modified fast. The caloric intake was between 500 and 600 calories, with 50% protein and 50% complex carbohydrates consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables. Measured parameters: weight, body composition via bio-impedance, blood pressure, and blood labs. A subset also underwent weekly electrocardiograms (EKG).
Interventions
DRUGHuman Chorionic Gonadotropin
The addition of hormone to a daily low calorie diet to potentially aid in selective fat loss, or muscle-sparing.
DRUGPlacebo
OTHERLow calorie diet
Sponsors
Dr. Emma's Corporation
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30, * Female, * good health
Exclusion criteria
* complex medical history, * thyroid disease, * BMI less than 30, * psychological instability or history of eating disorder
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss achieved during a trial of HCG vs. Placebo and a very low calorie diet. | 30 days | Comparison of weight loss between the experimental and control group |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle loss comparison between HCG and placebo group during a very low calorie diet. | 30 days | Lean body mass and muscle mass readings used to compare between experimental and control group. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fat loss comparison between HCG and placebo groups during a very low calorie diet. | 30 days | Fat mass readings used to compare between experimental and control groups. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed