CLA Helps Body Fat Health in Postmenopausal Women

by | Jul 17, 2009 | 2009, CLA (Conjugated Linolenic Acid), Weight Control, Women's Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a study with 75 postmenopausal women, 5500 mg CLA had a 4% reduction in body mass index more than the control group.

As a food supplement found in meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products (1), Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is most commonly associated with weight loss. Now new study (2) has found that CLA may help with body fat in postmenopausal women.

The study involved 75 postmenopausal women without any chronic disease (as evidenced through a medical and lifestyle questionnaire) or high blood pressure and with a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 35 kg/m2. They were given either 5.5 grams of CLA or placebo (olive oil) for 16 weeks. During this time, they periodically gave blood samples and were weighed and had their body fat measured.

By the end of 16 weeks those in the placebo group saw no change in BMI (increase from 25.5 to 25.6 kg/m2), but those in the CLA group saw a 4% decrease (25.6 decreased to 24.6 g/m2). Seventy percent of this fat loss was seen in the lower body, with a measurement of 9.5 kg/m2 in the CLA group vs. 10.2 kg/m2 in the placebo group. Unfortunately, the researchers did not specify was constituted “lower body” with the bodyfat measurements in this study.

The researchers found these results to confirm human studies in 2000 (3) and 2004 (4) on CLA and weight loss. They concluded that “[CLA] resulted in lower total and lower-body [fat mass] in healthy postmenopausal women” compared to placebo.

Source: Raff, Marianne, et al. “Conjugated linoleic acids reduce body fat in healthy postmenopausal women.” The Journal of nutrition 139.7 (2009): 1347-1352.

© 2009 American Society for Nutrition.

Posted July 17, 2009.

References:

  1. “Conjugated Linoleic Acid” posted on the Physicians Desk Reference website.
  2. Raff M. Conjugated Linoleic Acids Reduce Body Fat in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.  Jou Nutr 2009; 139(7): 1347-1352.
  3. Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, Thom E, Wadstein J, Gudmundsen O. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. J Nutr. 2000;130:2943–8.
  4. Gaullier JM, Halse J, Hoye K, Kristiansen K, Fagertun H, Vik H, Gudmundsen O. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for 1 y reduces body fat mass in healthy overweight humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79:1118–25.