CLA Reduces Body Fat Significantly

17/10/07 The first study to report on the effects of Cognis’ Tonalin CLA in a skimmed milk product has shown a significant reduction of body fat mass (BFM) in overweight subjects, indicating that CLA can be beneficial in body weight and fat management whether taken as a functional food or supplement. The researchers noted that subjects lost most of the fat from the trunk (torso) area of the body - good news for consumers aiming to improve both their health and body shape. 

Sixty overweight (BMI £30) but otherwise healthy men and women, aged 35 – 65 years, were randomized to a daily intake of 500 ml skimmed milk fortified with 3g Tonalin CLA, or a placebo milk, over a twelve week period.

The results showed a significant 3% reduction of BFM in the overweight group taking the milk fortified with Tonalin CLA.  No significant fat loss was found in the obese volunteers or in either group taking the placebo.  The research also found that CLA supplementation was not associated with any adverse effects or clinical changes.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial1, was conducted by a team of Spanish researchers, led by Dr. Amalia Lafuente from the Department of Farmacología y Química Terapéutica, Universidad de Barcelona, and published recently in the British Journal of Nutrition.

In interpreting their results, the authors discussed other published literature on the effects of CLA on body composition including  the landmark Gaullier study, 2,3 in which 12 months’ supplementation with Tonalin CLA resulted in greater BFM reductions - up to 9%.  However, Dr. Lafuente points out: “If the Gaullier study results are extrapolated to those of our shorter study (12 weeks), they coincide with the 3% BFM reduction we observed. Our data indicate that CLA supplementation may be a useful approach to reducing fat mass, which is a prominent cardiovascular risk factor.”

Dr. Doris Bell, who leads the Cognis global research program on Tonalin CLA said: “These findings have considerable significance for Tonalin CLA, indicating that the ingredient can work as well in a functional food product - a dairy matrix,  for example - as it does in a food supplement.  The study also re-confirms that the longer term consumption of Tonalin CLA is effective, safe and, importantly, does not negatively affect blood lipids or glucose levels.  This had been an area of interest for some authorities in the past, but any potential concerns are now entirely dispelled by the overwhelming evidence of 18 clinical studies.

“Pending Novel Food approval, there are clearly huge opportunities for functional food manufacturers to join supplement producers in marketing successful products for healthy fat loss featuring Tonalin CLA," concluded Dr. Bell.