conjugated linolenic acid & fat storage/body shape

[Analog6]

I think this is pretty exciting stuff, another guernsey for our way of life!

I've edited this a bit - the link to the whole article is there if any one wants to read it.

CLA’s body-shaping action clarified in new trial

10/5/2006 - Lipid Nutrition is today announcing the findings of a new human trial using CLA, that reinforces the fatty acid’s fat mass reduction claim and shed light on the main locations of the fat reduction on the human body.

CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) is a fatty acid naturally present in ruminant meat and dairy products. Due to changes in the Western diet, average intake of CLA has fallen; if the fat is removed from a dairy product to make a low fat version that will be acceptable to consumers, CLA is removed along with it.

CLA is metabolised by bacteria in the stomachs of cows from the grass they eat.

...two-fold effect on humans: the reduction of fat mass and the induction of lean body mass.

The mechanism of (CLA) action has been well studied: if fat consumed is not used for energy, the triglycerides are taken up by fat cells – a mechanism for which the enzyme lipoprotein lipase is responsible.

CLA inhibits this enzyme, and instead the triglycerides are diverted to the muscle cells to be burnt. Here the CLA induces the activity of another enzyme, carnitine palmitoyl transferase, which is responsible for oxidation and the burning of fat.

The new placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study was conducted at an independent research institute and involved 180 obese or overweight adults with a body mass index between 28 and 32.

Over a six month period they received either 3.4g of CLA each day, or a placebo (olive oil).

... at the end of the six months (those taking CLA had lost) 2kg (fat mass)compared to the placebo.

Lean body mass was seen to increase by an average of 0.4kg in the CLA group, over the placebo group.

But the area in which the study really shed light is the location of fat mass reduction – seen to be focused on the abdomen and the legs.

The researchers also measured certain safety parameters, such as inflammatory and diabetagenic markers.

In a sub group of 41 participants, the researchers measured insulin sensitivity – insulin sensitivity was not impaired, but the trend (although not significant) was towards improvement.

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news...8&k=cla-s-body

[kkat55]

This is interesting! Thanks for sharing!!

[MustLose80]

I think it is sort of expensive, but there are only two conjugations that work, which can be bought as a supplement. I did an in-depth report on these a few years ago for a class. The trick is, there is only one laboratory that makes real ones, the rest of the marketed ones are a waste of money. The real ones, if I remember correctly, would cost about $150 a month to supplement enough to stop diabetes and cause real weight loss. If I wasn't a student, I would go for it, but alas, I cannot afford it at this time.