The use of phosphorus supplements may help people lose weight by reducing their weight and waistline, as well as providing a feeling of fullness, a new study finds.

Previous studies have found that people with a lower level of phosphorus in their bodies tend to weigh more and, and that appetite is decreased with supplementation. But the effect of weight loss with phosphorus supplementation, but a research team in Lebanon decided to study it.

They devised an experiment to test phosphorus supplements in a group of 47 overweight and obese individuals, ages 18 to 45, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above.  The participants were divided into two groups, one that took a 325-mg supplement at the main meal, and the control group, which was given a placebo.

After 12 weeks, the group taking the supplement had lost an average of 1.43 pounds, as well as more than an inch from their waist.  They also reported needing less food to feel full. In contrast, the placebo group gained an average of 2 ½ pounds, the report said.

More research is needed to learn the long-term effects of phosphorus supplementation as well as the optimal dosage, said the researchers of their study, which appears in Nutrition and Diabetes.