Editing Human chorionic gonadotropin (section)

====Homeopathic HCG for weight control====
Controversy about, and shortages<ref name="urlBulletin">{{cite web | url = http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/Bulletin.aspx?id=382 | title = Chorionic Gonadotropin (Human) Injection Shortage | date = 2010-10-13 | work = Bulletin | publisher = American Society of Health-System Pharmacists | access-date = 2010-10-23 | archive-date = 2011-09-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110919004921/http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/Bulletin.aspx?id=382 | url-status = dead }}</ref> of, injected HCG for weight loss have led to substantial Internet promotion of "[[homeopathy|homeopathic]] HCG" for weight control. The ingredients in these products are often obscure, but if prepared from true HCG via homeopathic dilution, they contain either no HCG at all or only trace amounts. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that oral HCG is bioavailable due to the fact that digestive protease enzymes and hepatic metabolism renders peptide-based molecules (such as insulin and human growth hormone) biologically inert. HCG can likely only enter the bloodstream through injection.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

The United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] has stated that over-the-counter products containing HCG are fraudulent and ineffective for weight loss. They are also not protected as homeopathic drugs and have been deemed illegal substances.<ref name="urlHCG weight-loss products are fraudulent, FDA says - USATODAY.com">{{cite web | url = https://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/fitness/weight-loss-challenge/2011-01-24-hcgdiet24_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip | title = HCG weight-loss products are fraudulent, FDA says - USATODAY.com | vauthors = Hellmich N | date = 2011-01-23 | publisher = USA Today | access-date = 2011-02-03 }}</ref> HCG is classified as a prescription drug in the United States and it has not been approved for over-the-counter sales by the FDA as a weight loss product or for any other purposes, and therefore neither HCG in its pure form nor any preparations containing HCG may be sold legally in the country except by prescription.<ref name="MedPage20111206" /> In December 2011, FDA and FTC started to take actions to pull unapproved HCG products from the market.<ref name="MedPage20111206" /> In the aftermath, some suppliers started to switch to "hormone-free" versions of their weight loss products, where the hormone is replaced with an unproven mixture of free amino acids<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/08/prweb9258422.DTL|title=Hormone-Free HCG Drops are Quickly Replacing Homeopathic Counterparts|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 9, 2012}}</ref> or where [[radionics]] is used to transfer the "energy" to the final product.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

{{As of|2011|12|6|df=US}}, the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] has prohibited the sale of [[homeopathy|homeopathic]] and [[over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] hCG [[dieting|diet]] products and declared them [[fraud|fraudelent]] and banned.<ref name="MedPage20111206">{{cite news | vauthors = Gever J | date=December 6, 2011 |title=FDA Yanks HCG Weight Loss Agents from Market |url=http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/OTC/30042?pfc=101&spc=230 |publisher=[[MedPage Today]] |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm281333.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208151744/http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm281333.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2011 |title=HCG Diet Products Are Illegal |publisher=FDA |date=December 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=FDA, FTC act to remove 'homeopathic' HCG weight loss products from the market |publisher=FDA |date=6 December 2011 |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/press-releases/ftc-charges-hcg-marketer-deceptive-advertising/fda_hcg_products_press_release_12-6-11.pdf |access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>