title: Effect of phosphorus supplementation on weight gain and waist circumference of overweight/obese adults: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phosphorus status is inversely correlated with body weight; however, the effect of phosphorus supplementation on body weight in a controlled design has not been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 63 adults aged 18-45 years with a body mass index (BMI) of ⩾25 kg m(-2) and normal kidney function at the American University of Beirut. Participants were randomly assigned to the placebo or phosphorus group where daily placebo or phosphorus supplements were ingested with three main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for a period of 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were changes in anthropometric measures, blood metabolites (including lipid profile, glucose and insulin) and subjective appetite scores. The trial is registered with Clinical Trial.gov, NCT02329990.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight was significantly lower in the phosphorus group when compared with the placebo group (-0.65 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.69 to 0.40) vs 1.13 kg (95% CI 0.19 to 2.06), P=0.01). Similarly, BMI and waist circumference were significantly lower in the phosphorus group when compared with the placebo group (-0.24 kg m(-2) (95% CI -0.59 to 0.12) vs 0.42 kg m(-2) (95% CI 0.05 to 0.78), P=0.01; -3.62 cm (95% CI-4.90 to -2.33) vs 0.38 cm ( 95% CI-0.44 to 1.20), P<0.001; respectively). Several parameters of subjective appetite scores were decreased in the phosphorus-supplemented group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phosphorus supplementation for 12 weeks significantly decreases body weight, BMI, waist circumference and subjective appetite scores. These findings support a promising role of the mineral phosphorus in the prevention and management of obesity, especially abdominal adiposity. The exact mechanisms of action and longer-term effects still need to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Samra
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hlais
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bassil
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Obeid