
The Best Weight Loss Supplement Benefits
- October 21, 2021
A new weight loss product may have an ingredient that may increase your risk of heart disease.
A study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a supplement containing zinc and creatine can help people lose weight, but the benefits may not be so pronounced when combined with other nutrients.
“The findings provide strong evidence that the zinc and the creatine are a beneficial combination for weight loss, although the magnitude of benefit is likely dependent on the nutrient intake,” lead author Dr. Anupam K. Chaudhary, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said in a statement.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 2,000 participants in the New England Journal of Medicine, the largest journal of medicine in the United States.
The study included more than 5,000 men and women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2000 to 2013.
Participants were randomly assigned to take either a supplement with zinc and a supplement that contained creatine, or a placebo.
Participants were also asked how much they consumed of the two products each day, and whether they weighed more than 400 pounds at the end of the study.
In the zinc supplement, participants were told to take 500 milligrams (mg) of zinc and 400 milligram (mg), and the researchers measured their blood zinc levels after three weeks.
Participants in the zinc group lost significantly more weight than those in the creatine supplement group.
Participant groups who took zinc were also less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.
The zinc group also experienced less chronic pain and depression than those who took creatine.
“There was a significant association between the zinc-rich supplement and weight loss in this study,” Chaudhy said.
“This suggests that zinc and its components may contribute to weight loss by increasing the body’s capacity for energy production and decreasing the need for energy.”
In the study, researchers also found that participants in both groups had a higher likelihood of achieving weight loss compared to participants in a placebo group.
Researchers said the findings suggest that zinc supplements may be beneficial for people with chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetics, hypertension and stroke, or for those who are overweight or obese.
Choudhary said more research is needed to determine if the zinc, creatine, and the other nutrients could be combined in a weight loss regimen.
“It is important to consider the interaction of all of these nutrients,” Choudham said.
“One of the benefits of zinc is that it’s a nutrient that can be incorporated into a diet, which is an important aspect in the management of obesity,” Chavarria said.
Chaudhay said the researchers also said there may be other benefits of combining zinc and other nutrients, including improving the immune system.
He said zinc supplements are being tested in the treatment of diabetes and arthritis, and that zinc may be useful for people who are suffering from asthma, fatigue, depression, and other conditions.
“People who are on medication for depression or anxiety or any other psychiatric condition should be advised to avoid taking zinc supplements as this combination could be harmful to their health,” Chawal said.