CLA Reduces Body Fat

Category: Dietary Supplements

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to reduce body fat and increase lean body mass in short-term trials with small numbers of subjects. Now, a longer-term study (12 months) with a larger number of subjects (157 overweight adults) reports that CLA supplementation safely reduces body fat and increases lean body mass, without a change in diet or exercise.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004, vol 79, issue 6), found that a daily intake of CLA supplements reduced body fat by an average of 9 percent and increased lean body mass by an average of 4 percent. Scientists at the Scandinavian Clinical Research in Kjeller, Norway, administered a CLA mixture containing 80% trans-10, cis-12 and cis-9, trans-11 isomers, administered either in the triacylglycerol or FFA form, or a placebo (olive oil) to 3 groups of randomly assigned subjects. The researchers measured body fat mass changes by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. There were no specific lifestyle restrictions.

After 12 months, researchers found that CLA supplementation significantly lowered body fat mass in comparison with the placebo group and tended to increase the lean body mass. This effect of CLA on body fat mass and lean body mass was independent of diet or exercise. In addition, body fat loss appeared to be greatest in people with the highest body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass, especially in women, who generally have a greater fat to body weight ratio than men.

According to the study authors, "high compliance and a low dropout rate indicate good tolerance of CLA supplementation." They found that the CLA side effects, mostly described as mild gastrointestinal reactions, were no greater than those taking the olive oil placebo.

Posted by Kristopher Foster on December 2, 2008 10:00 AM