(CLA) Conjugated Linoleic Acid

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) has been shown to be highly effective supplement to aid in weight loss and the conversion of fat to lean muscle mass in animal studies and is used extensively by body builders and weight loss professionals. 

For once the supplement industry seems tob e right. CLA reduces fat and promotes muscle growth. It does so even with people who are not athletic to begin with shown by a Norwegian research publication on over weight subjects.

The researchers did administer different doses of CLA for a period of 12 weeks. The subjects trained in the gym of the research institute. Before, during and after the 12 weeks researchers measured muscle mass and fatpercentage of the people involved.

CLA supplementation was also shown to improve the lean mass to body fat ratio, decreasing fat deposition, especially on the abdomen, and enhancing muscle growth. After evalution it was clear that the subjects felt better when they were administerd CLA.

Bron Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, Thom E, Wadstein J, Gudmundsen O. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. In: Journal of Nutrition, december 2000, 130(12), blz. 2943-2948.

Compared to the previous generations, Americans are deficient in CLA, because changes in cattle-feeding practices have decreased CLA content in meat and milk. For optimal CLA production, cows need to graze on grass rather than be artificially fattened in feed lots.

The meat of grass-fed cows contains up to four times as much CLA . Today's dairy products have only about one third of the CLA content they used to have before 1960.

Current research findings about CLA.

	CLA reduces body fat in mice by up to 88%
	CLA improves insulin sensitivity
	CLA inhibits the growth of prostate cancer while linoleic acid promotes it
	CLA supplementation helps prevent the initiation, promotion and metastasis of breast cancer
	Immune-enhancing effects of CLA
	Anti-Atherogenic effects of CLA
	CLA lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, helps keep arteries clean
	Possible anti-osteoporosis effects of CLA
	More muscle les fat through CLA administration CLA doesn't help with people on a diet trying to lose weight. It does however help people with building muscle mass and does seem to block the growth of fat cells. That is what researcher told at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Accoring to researchers from the Universiy of Winsconsin people using CLA gained twice as much muscle than people using none. Above was concluded after a study with 80 obese people under a training regime and a diet with low fat. One half were given a placebo and the other half of the group were given CLA. Both groups lost an equal amount of weight. About 2-3 kilograms. The differnce bewteen groups was found that the placebo group gained 75% fat and 25% muscle. The CLA group gained in a ratio of 50-50. The study backed up different studies conducted in the last 10 years on CLA. According to those studies CLA has anabolic, muscle building properties and improves the effectiveness of the hormone insulin. This research was conducted by the supplement industry. Conjugated Linolic Acid is found in animal fats like cheese, milkproducts and meat. Doping guru's are claiming this is the reason that builders and lifters progress the most while on a diet with mostly animal sources for protein. In supplements the usual dose is about 500 to 1000 miligram per capsule. Critics are still not convinced about the use of CLA. With animal studies there are promosing results but with human studies the results are moderate. As CLA becomes more available at lower pricing it is cost effective now to try and see what CLA could meen for the individual.

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