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 ers went through earlier studies and reports on both energy drinks and sports drinks, which don't contain any stimulants. They note that energy drinks contain a jumble of ingredients -- including vitamins and herbal extracts -- with possible side effects that aren't always well understood. While there aren't many documented cases of harm directly linked to the beverages, stimulants can disturb the heart's rhythm and may lead to seizures in very rare cases, Benjamin said. Recently, she saw a 15-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who came into the hospital with a seizure after having drunk two 24-ounce bottles of Mountain Dew, a soft drink that contains caffeine. The boy was already taking stimulant ADHD medication, and the extra caffeine in principle might have pushed him over the edge, according to Benjamin. "You just never know," she said. "It's definitely a concern." Earlier this year, Pediatrics published another review of the literature on energy drinks. In it, Florida pediatricians described cases of seizures, delusions, heart problems and kidney or liver damage in people who had drunk one or more non-alcoholic energy drinks -- including brands like Red Bull, Spike Shooter and Redline. While they acknowledged that such cases are very rare, and can't be conclusively linked to the drinks, they urged caution, especially in kids with medical conditions (see Reuters story of February 14, 2011). U.S. sales of non-alcoholic energy drinks are expected to hit $9 billion this year, with children and young adults accounting for half the market. Manufacturers claim their products will enhance both