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Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplements Change Body Fat Distribution



By Martha Kerr

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Health) May 23 - A study presented here at Digestive Disease Week 2006 shows that conjugated linoleic acid supplements induce a change in body fat distribution, with the greatest fat reductions occurring in the abdomen and legs. Meanwhile, body weight and body mass index are essentially unaffected.

Dr. Alexandra Einerhand of the Lipid Nutrition Center in Loders Croklaan, Wormerveer, The Netherlands, and colleagues in Norway explain in their meeting abstract that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers "are normal constituents of fats derived from ruminant animals and dairy products." Body stores of CLA "are low, in the range of 150-400 mg," the Dutch researcher noted.

The researchers randomized 105 overweight or obese adults (BMI, 28-32) to CLA 3.4 g/day or a placebo consisting of olive oil for 6 months.

Dr. Einerhand reported a significant 5.6% drop in body fat mass in participants given the CLA supplement compared with controls at the end of the 6-month study period.

Reductions in fat mass were already measurable at 3 months. In women, reductions occurred in both the abdomen and legs, while in men, reductions were only seen in the abdomen. CLA supplementation did not affect tissue composition in the arms.

Waist circumference dropped 3.1 cm, while waist-to-hip ratio fell 0.024. Body weight fell 1.5 kg and BMI dropped 0.6 kg/m2, although Dr. Einerhand said these changes were not statistically significant. Individuals with the highest BMIs at baseline showed the greatest response to CLA supplementation.

"These changes were independent of diet and exercise," she added.

Dr. Einerhand told Reuters Health that there appeared to be no toxicity with CLA supplementation and it did not affect any of a number of parameters the investigators measured. Insulin sensitivity, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and adipokines were all unchanged, she commented. "It may be that the changes are too modest to be seen at this time," Dr. Einerhand suggested.

She explained that CLA has two isomers that work on fat storage in different ways: by inhibiting the storage of fat in adipocytes and by stimulating fat oxidation. "Fat mass decreases and muscle mass increases," Dr. Einerhand said.



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