CLA supplements keeps body fat off

27/02/06 Supplements of conguated linoleic acid (CLA) taken for two years helped overweight adults keep their body fat mass down, without having to restrict calories or change exercise habits.

The findings, published in the journal of nutrition, come from the extension of 12-month study on 157 adults. It found that a daily intake of 3.4g of CLA, made by bio-synergy, produced an average 9 per cent reduction in body fat mass.

The research shows that 9 per cent body fat decreases represents about 2kg in weight for a person weighing around 80kg to begin with, or the kind of weight loss that can be seen with a long term exercise programme.

CLA Supplementation also appeared to lower levels of Leptin, a hormone associated with increased weight. Over the Course of 24 months, leptin levels dropped 20-35 per cent as study subjects body fat.

Human beings are not able to convert enough linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid. If we do not have enough CLA in our bodies, all our dietary fat will be stored as the physical fat that you see on your problem areas, rather than converted into muscle.

CLA is a natural fatty acid which helps in reducing fat deposits while body weight remains unchanged and muscle mass increases.

CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) is an Omega-6 fatty acid and a ’relative’ of Omega-3. These fatty acids are necessary but cannot be formed by the human body and have to be supplied through food or dietary supplements. The fatty acid omega-6 (CLA) occurs naturally in small quantities in milk fat and meat (mainly lamb and veal). The amount of CLA in milk fat depends on the type of feed the cows have received. The concentration of omega-6 fatty acid in foods is therefore generally low, which means that we do not consume a sufficient quantity. This can be compensated for by a dietary supplement.

CLA has a proven effect on the cholesterol level. It lowers the total level while raising the ’good’ cholesterol.

CLA supplementation is also shown to improve the lean mass to body fat ratio, decreasing fat deposition, especially on the abdomen, and enhancing muscle growth. To achieve this, CLA reduces body fat is by enhancing insulin sensitivity so that fatty acids and glucose can pass through muscle cell membranes and away from fat tissue. This results in an improved muscle to fat ratio. Compelling evidence indicates that CLA can promote youthful metabolic function and reduce body fat. The unique mechanisms by which this fatty acid protects against disease makes it an important addition to any supplement program. Conjugated Linoleic Acid supplements help maintain lean muscle tissue after weight loss.

There is no other organ in the body that requires as many EFAs as the brain, and with sufficient quantities in the diet, the brain performs at peak level. If we consider the make-up of our brain tissue, the reason becomes clear. The human brain is more than 60 per cent fat, of which about one-fifth cannot be supplied by the body. Instead, it must be supplied through our diet, in the form of omega 6 fatty acids.