This common mineral could increase weight loss by up to six times.
Taking a calcium supplement can increase weight loss by up to six times, a study has found.
Calcium deficient women who took a supplement lost 13 pounds, in comparison to 2 pounds in a control group.
Around half of people who are obese have a calcium deficiency.
Calcium is lost every day through through sweat, hair, nails and skin.
The body cannot produce calcium, so relies on it from food intake.
Calcium deficiency is thought to encourage the brain to increase food intake to obtain more of the mineral.
Studies have also shown that people who are calcium deficient have more body fat, larger waistlines and higher levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL).
The study involved 63 obese or overweight women who took part in a 15-week weight loss program.
Before starting the program, their calcium intake was 50 percent down.
Instead of the recommended 1000 mg per day, they were consuming less than 600 mg.
Half were given 1200 mg per day of calcium and the other half a placebo.
After following the diet, the results showed that those taking the supplement lost 13 pounds, compared to only 2 pounds in the placebo group.
Professor Angelo Tremblay, who led the study, said:
“Our hypothesis is that the brain can detect the lack of calcium and seeks to compensate by spurring food intake, which obviously works against the goals of any weight loss program.
Sufficient calcium intake seems to stifle the desire to eat more.”
Another study has shown that decreasing intake of dairy products, which contain a lot of calcium, is linked to putting on weight.
Getting enough calcium is also linked to lower risk for cardiovascular disease.
The study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition (Major et al., 2008).
