Health experts, including the Food and Drug Administration, are urging the public to not use over-the-counter HCG hormone products to lose weight, as there is no proof it actually works and it can be dangerous to your health, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported.
These HCG diet products, which come in the form of oral drops or sprays, are being sold in health stores, and supporters of the diet craze say it’s a “weight-loss miracle.”
HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy by the placenta. Dr. Laree Hooker, of Tempe, Ariz., said there is no evidence that HCG products effectively help people lose weight.
“With the injectible HCG, all the literature shows that after the protocol, it basically recalibrates your metabolism for your body’s new set point for your weight, and that evidence is just not present for the homeopathic version,” Hooker said.
Elizabeth Miller, who oversees the FDA’s Internet health-fraud team, said HCG products are not recognized by the agency.
“We are aware of HCG products that claim to be homeopathic, but it is not recognized in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. They are unapproved drugs and are illegal.”
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