There is new recent evidence that multivitamins may be helpful in controlling weight. At the very least, a daily multivitamin and mineral tablet (MVM) can supply nutrients missing in many weight loss diets caused by the reduction of calories and/or the diet’s particular omission of certain foods. This fact alone makes MVM supplementation during weight loss very important to your long-term health. Recently however, there has been a theory proposed that certain micronutrients may be associated with the possible control of food intake, lower body weight and less fat consumption. In population studies, it was found that male MVM users are leaner than their non-user counterparts and displayed an increased relative resting energy expenditures (calorie burn). Female users were found to have a reduced dietary fat intake and less susceptibility to hunger than non-users. A subsequent clinical trial evaluating the impact of a daily MVM on weight loss found that the supplement users had significantly less hunger than the placebo group during the weight loss diet. These outcomes suggests that since micronutrients are involved in almost all bodily functions, the mechanisms that control appetite would be negatively affected when micronutrient availability was suboptimal for these mechanisms to properly function. Additionally, similar to when calories are reduced and hunger ensues, subpar micronutrient intake may also work to trigger hunger/craving in order for the body to maintain sufficient stores.
Keep in mind that anytime you reduce calories/food to lose weight, you reduce nutrients necessary for health and maintaining our lean body mass. Therefore, the daily use of a MVM tablet may help with weight loss in 4 ways: 1) maintain health; 2) maintain lean body mass; 3) reduce cravings for certain micronutrient containing foods; 4) allow appetite mechanisms to function properly to help control energy balance (calorie control). And finally, through these aforementioned potential reasons, daily MVM use may also help guard against weight regain.