Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals; Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 08 Dec 2011 - 10:00 PST
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It is illegal to sell unapproved diet products that make unsupported claims, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has warned seven companies which are selling "homeopathic HCG weight-loss drugs.
The marketers of these products tell users to follow an extremely restricted and potentially dangerous diet. The FDA is advising consumers not to use the illegal HCG weight-loss products because of the potential danger there might be in following these diets. If they have not been tested scientifically in clinical trials, it is impossible to know how safe and effective they are.
The weight-loss drugs claim to contain HCG - human chorionic gonadotropin - a hormone. They can be bought on the internet and at some retail outlets in the form of sprays, pellets or oral drops.
The following companies have received warning letters: HCG Diet Direct, LLC
Product name - HCG Diet Homeopathic DropsHCG 1234 LLC (The hCG Drops LLC)
Product name - Homeopathic HCGHCG Platinum, LLC
Product names - HCG Platinum, HCG Platinum X-30, HCG Platinum X-14Hcg-miracleweightloss.com
Product name - HCG Extra Weight Loss Homeoapthic DropsNatural Medical Supply, LLC DBA HCG Complete Diet
Product name - HCG Extra Weight Loss Homeoapthic DropsNutri Fusion Systems, Inc
Product names - HCG Fusion 30, HCG Fusion 43Theoriginalhcgdrogs.com
Product name - Homeopathic Original HCG, Homeoapthic HCG
The FDA says HCG Diet Products Are Illegal HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a hormone that the human placenta produces and can be detected in the urine of pregnant females.
HCG has been approved for usage in some cases of female infertility and male hormone treatment.
Approved HCG products are only available through a doctor's prescription, and in injection form.
There are no FDA-approved HCG products for weight-loss treatment on the market.
For a start, there are no FDA-approved drugs containing HCG for the treatment of weight loss. HCG has not been scientifically demonstrated to be effective and safe in obesity treatment. There is no compelling evidence that HCG accelerates weight loss.The "homeopathic" HCG products tell purchasers to follow a very low calorie diet (VLCD). A VLCD should only be undertaken when supervised by a properly qualified medical professional. VLCD, if not done under proper supervision, raises the risk of developing gallstones, electrolyte imbalance and irregular heartbeats.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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MLA
8 Dec. 2011.
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