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Phosphorus supplementation reduces body weight, waist circumference in adults with obesity
Adults with overweight or obesity who took phosphorus supplements three times daily over 12 weeks saw significant reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference and subjective appetite scores compared with adults assigned a placebo, according to research in Nutrition & Diabetes.
Jennifer J. Ayoub , of the department of nutrition and food science at American University in Beirut, Lebanon, and colleagues analyzed data from 63 adults aged 45 years or younger with a BMI of at least 25 kg/m² and normal kidney functioning. They randomly assigned participants 375 mg phosphorus taken three times daily with meals (n = 26; mean age, 34 years; 16 women; mean BMI, 31.64 kg/m²) or a matching placebo (n = 21; mean age, 37 years; 15 women; mean BMI, 33,73 kg/m²) for 12 weeks. The researchers requested that participants maintain their regular dietary and physical activity habits throughout the study period and to avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise 24 hours before study visits. Researchers measured body weight, lipid profiles, glucose, insulin and subjective appetite scores via a questionnaire at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks.
Ayoub and colleagues found that the phosphorus group lost a mean of –0.65 kg (95% CI, –1.69-0.40); whereas the placebo group gained a mean of 1.13 kg (95% CI, 0.19-2.06). The phosphorus group also saw a reduction in BMI vs. the placebo group (–0.24 kg/m² vs. 0.42 kg/m²; P = .01) as well as waist circumference (–3.62 cm vs 0.38 cm; P < .001).
Researchers found phosphorus supplementation had no effect on levels of serum phosphorus, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose or C-reactive protein.
Participants assigned phosphorus also reported significant reductions in appetite, quantity of food needed to reach fullness, taste of food and number of snacks consumed vs. the placebo group.
“This 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial showed that phosphorus supplementation halted weight gain and BMI while significantly decreasing waist circumference,” the researchers wrote. “At the same time, these changes were associated with early satiation, whereas satiety and hunger were not altered. Our findings support a promising role of the mineral phosphorus in preventing obesity, especially abdominal adiposity.” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.