IACPV RESEARCH

Posted By Clod on November 29, 2011

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of different chemical forms of linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid—a type of fat that your body needs as much as it needs vitamins.

Some evidence suggests that CLA supplements might help your body “burn” fat, although other studies disagree.

In a recent trial, 60 overweight individuals were divided into five groups: one that received placebo (olive oil), and four others that received various doses of conjugated linoeleic acid.1 Over the 12-week study period, body composition was evaluated using a technique called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Individuals taking CLA showed reductions in body fat mass as compared to placebo; at 2 of the doses (3.4g daily and 6.8g daily) the results were statistically significant.

However, many participants in this trial dropped out, making the results less than meaningful. Furthermore, the results of previous studies were mixed.

The bottom line: whether CLA is truly an effective aid for burning fat remains to be determined.

For additional information, see the full article on CLA.

Categories: Diet
Tags: body fat, linoleic acid, mass