The diet requires you to eat only 500-800 kcal per day. That is extremely low and anyone would loose weight doing that regardless of hCG injections. I think I can understand the reasoning about using hCG for weight loss though, since when we were young and our bodies produced tons of hormones, we could eat all kinds of stuff and never get fat. So, bringing back hormone levels to those youthful levels would seem on the surface to help someone loose weight, but I don't think it's that simple. I'm not an expert though.

As I mentioned in another thread, you'll lose weight on a near-starvation diet, regardless of hCG injections or not. In fact, a study comparing a severely caloric-restricted diet (500 kcal/day) with hCG injections versus placebo showed NO difference in weight loss, i.e. hCG does nothing to enhance weight loss in this scenario.

- Dan

I guess it's possible that hCG therapy in hypogonadal men would enable them to loose weight easier if they also take something to suppress E2. Would you think that's a reasonable idea?

Yes in fact a small clinical trial used a low-dose AI to alter the T:E ratio in overweight men, and it was beneficial in this regard.

- Dan

Thanks! I'd like to see the results for that trial if you have them!

Here you go...

- Dan

Attached Files

letrozole.pdf (198.5 KB, 29 views)

I realize this thread is a few weeks old, but it's a good discussion of Eric's very informative article. I especially like the way he use studies to back up his own professional experiences and observations.

I have a question about hCG half-life. Eric, if I can paraphrase, you recommend dosing hCG every third or fourth day since that corresponds with its half-life. I've heard others talk of studies (I've not seen them) that confirm this half-life. However, my hCG insert says it has a half-life of 33 hours:

"Maximal plasma hCG levels will be reached in males approximately 6 and 16 hours after a single intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of hCG, respectively and in females after approximately 20 hours. HCG is approximately 80 per cent metabolized, predominantly in the kidneys. Intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of hCG were found to be bioequivalent regarding the extent of absorption and the apparent elimination half-lives of approximately 33 hours. On basis of the recommended dose regimens and elimination half-life, cumulation is not expected to occur."

What should I make of this? I've been using 250 IU hCG EOD as part of my TRT for well over a year, and I've been reasoning that every 48 hours provides a good pulse if hCG has a half-life of 33 hours. But now I'm wondering about the possibility of a longer half-life. I'd be interested in any studies of hCG use in men that reference the half-life of hCG.

Thoughts? Eric? Anyone?

Thanks!

Half life means the time at which the drug is at half the level it was when injected. I think Eric means that in order to prevent the leydig cells from becoming desensitized to hCG, you need to wait longer so that the product falls below the half level, and preferably after it is almost gone from the body. This way, you get a bigger pulse when you inject again.

Thanks for your reply, Dirk. That makes sense. So if the half-life of hCG is 33 hours, and you took your shots 66 hours apart (approximately three days apart), you'd only have about 1/4 of the previous dose circulating every time you injected. And if you took your shots every fourth day, you'd have even less of the previous shot circulating. So it stands to reason that injecting hCG every third or fourth day would give you more of a pulsatile effect, thereby hopefully preserving testicular sensitivity. This may be why a popular TRT doc recommends 250 IU hCG E3D for transdermal TRT patients. If anyone has better info on any of the above, please advise.

One question to those of you who have used or are using hCG: Is 250 IU twice a week enough to keep your balls up to form and function?

Thanks!

Yes, I use Testim and shoot hCG E3D. My testicles are approximately normal size now.