Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. In 80 overweight volunteers, 1.7 grams of CLA significantly reduced BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, as well as body fat mass.
With summer around the corner, people are looking for all kinds of ways to slim down and tone up. Among the various products on the market formulated for weight loss, CLA is a natural fat that has been shown to reduce body weight and fat mass.
In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 80 overweight volunteers (26 men & 54 women) were randomly selected to receive 1.7g of CLA or placebo for 12 weeks. Volunteers aged 18-60 years old were recruited from E-DA hospital and I-Shou University in Taiwan with an average BMI and body weight of 27.56kg/m2 and 74.40kg (~163lbs), respectively. Participants had no serious infections, addictions, or diseases such as cancer, diabetes, thyroid disease, or Cushing’s disease (all of which affect metabolism).
| Category | Week 0 | Week 12 | P-value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | 74.40 ± 9.73 | 73.71 ± 10.07 | 0.034 |
| BMI | 27.56 ± 2.45 | 27.24 ± 2.47 | 0.013 |
| Waist-to Hip ratio | 0.855 ±0.043 | 0.847 ± 0.046 | 0.009 |
| Body Fat Mass (%) | 31.94 ± 5.08 | 31.36 ± 5.25 | 0.012 |
| Subcutaneous fat mass | 20.52 ± 3.91 | 20.00 ± 4.09 | 0.014 |
*all values listed are significant
| Category | Week 0 | Week 12 | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | 75.03 ± 10.45 | 74.94 ± 10.42 | 0.727 |
| BMI | 28.04 ± 2.94 | 28.02 ± 3.06 | 0.880 |
| Waist-to Hip ratio | 0.857 ± 0.054 | 0.856 ± 0.053 | 0.636 |
| Body Fat Mass (%) | 33.00 ± 4.93 | 32.80 ± 5.11 | 0.225 |
| Subcutaneous fat mass | 21.12 ± 4.33 | 21.36 ± 4.64 | 0.509 |
After 12 weeks, researchers saw a significant weight loss in the CLA group compared to placebo (p<0.05). Researchers also saw significant reduction in BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, as well as body fat mass in volunteers in the CLA group compared to the placebo (p<0.05). Overall, CLA had a positive effect on weight loss in the volunteers.
Source: Chen, Shu-Chiun, et al. “Effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on weight loss and body fat composition in a Chinese population.” Nutrition 28.5 (2012): 559-565.
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Posted February 4, 2014.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
Reference:
Chen SC et al. Effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on weight loss and body fat composition in a Chinese population Nutrition. 2012 May;28(5):559-65.
