Human chorionic gonadotropin
(Redirected from HCG diet)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone that is normally produced in the human body during pregnancy. It is secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast, a component of the fertilized egg after it implants into the uterine wall.
Structure and Function[edit | edit source]
hCG is a heterodimeric molecule made up of two subunits: alpha (α) and beta (β). The α subunit is nearly identical to the α subunits of other human glycoprotein hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The β subunit, on the other hand, is unique to hCG, which provides the hormone's specificity.
The primary function of hCG in the early stages of pregnancy is to maintain the corpus luteum, which in turn continues to secrete progesterone. Progesterone helps to keep the endometrium in a thickened and vascularized state, ideal for nurturing a developing embryo. This mechanism prevents the menstruation and rejection of the developing embryo.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
In the medical field, hCG is frequently utilized as a marker for pregnancy. Over-the-counter pregnancy tests often detect the presence of hCG in urine. A noticeable increase in the levels of hCG can be detected as early as the second week after fertilization, and its detection forms the basis of most pregnancy tests.
In addition, abnormal levels of hCG can indicate certain health conditions. Elevated hCG levels can be associated with multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.), gestational trophoblastic disease, or non-gestational cancers including testicular cancer and certain types of ovarian cancer. Low levels can be indicative of ectopic pregnancy or potential miscarriage.
hCG is also utilized in fertility treatments, given its role in promoting ovulation and progesterone production. However, the use of hCG as a weight-loss treatment (the 'hCG diet') is controversial and not supported by scientific evidence.
References[edit | edit source]
- NCBI: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
- PubMed: The clinical utility of human chorionic gonadotropin in the reproductive field
Human chorionic gonadotropin Resources | |
---|---|
|
Human chorionic gonadotropin Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD