- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid that is naturally found in beef and dairy products. CLA levels in dairy products may be modified by changing the animals' diets. Most CLA dietary supplements are made from safflower oil. However, CLA is also found in other vegetable oils, including hydrogenated soybean oil.
- Scientific interest in CLA began in the 1980s as a result of early evidence suggesting anticancer effects. Since this time, interest in CLA has broadened to areas of weight loss, exercise performance enhancement, and altered body composition. Conjugated linoleic acid is now a wide-selling supplement marketed to reduce obesity and body fat. Conjugated linoleic acid has also been studied for its effects on allergy, asthma, hair loss, heart disease risk, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, immune function, and rheumatoid arthritis. The two dominant isomers, or forms, of CLA that have been studied are the cis-9,trans-11 (c9,t11) and the trans-10,cis-12 (t10,c12) forms.
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Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
Contents
- Brownbill RA, Petrosian M, and Ilich JZ. Association between dietary conjugated linoleic acid and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. J Am Coll Nutr 2005;24(3):177-181.
View Abstract - Eyjolfson V, Spriet LL, and Dyck DJ. Conjugated linoleic acid improves insulin sensitivity in young, sedentary humans. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004;36(5):814-820.
View Abstract - Gaullier JM, Halse J, Hoye K, et al. Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid for 24 months is well tolerated by and reduces body fat mass in healthy, overweight humans. J Nutr 2005;135(4):778-784.
View Abstract - Herrera JA, Arevalo-Herrera M, Shahabuddin AK, et al. Calcium and conjugated linoleic acid reduces pregnancy-induced hypertension and decreases intracellular calcium in lymphocytes. Am J Hypertens 2006;19(4):381-387.
View Abstract - MacRedmond R, Singhera G, Attridge S, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid improves airway hyper-reactivity in overweight mild asthmatics. Clin Exp Allergy 2010;40(7):1071-1078.
View Abstract - Michishita T, Kobayashi S, Katsuya T, et al. Evaluation of the antiobesity effects of an amino acid mixture and conjugated linoleic acid on exercising healthy overweight humans: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Int Med Res 2010;38(3):844-859.
View Abstract - Moloney F, Yeow TP, Mullen A, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation, insulin sensitivity, and lipoprotein metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(4):887-895.
View Abstract - Nugent AP, Roche HM, Noone EJ, et al. The effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on immune function in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Nutr 2005;59(6):742-750.
View Abstract - Pinkoski C, Chilibeck PD, Candow DG, et al. The effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38(2):339-348.
View Abstract - Racine NM, Watras AC, Carrel AL, et al. Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on body fat accretion in overweight or obese children. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91(5):1157-1164.
View Abstract - Rastmanesh, R. An urgent need to include risk-benefit analysis in clinical trials investigating conjugated linoleic acid supplements in cancer patients. Contemp Clin Trials 9-21-2010.
View Abstract - Riserus U, Arner P, Brismar K, et al. Treatment with dietary trans10cis12 conjugated linoleic acid causes isomer-specific insulin resistance in obese men with the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Care 2002;25(9):1516-1521.
View Abstract - Sluijs I, Plantinga Y, de Roos B, et al. Dietary supplementation with cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid and aortic stiffness in overweight and obese adults. Am.J Clin.Nutr 2010;91(1):175-183.
View Abstract - Venkatramanan S, Joseph SV, Chouinard PY, et al. Milk enriched with conjugated linoleic acid fails to alter blood lipids or body composition in moderately overweight, borderline hyperlipidemic individuals. J Am Coll Nutr 2010;29(2):152-159.
View Abstract - Wanders AJ, Brouwer IA, Siebelink E, et al. Effect of a high intake of conjugated linoleic acid on lipoprotein levels in healthy human subjects. PLoS One 2010;5(2):e9000.
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