A study published in The Journal of Nutrition has concluded that the natural dietary supplement conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces body fat in people who are overweight or obese. The study is the largest published scientific evidence to date showing that the natural supplement reduces the weight of fatty tissue in humans. The double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study confirms a series of previous animal and human studies, which concluded that CLA improves body composition by reducing fat and preserving muscle tissue.
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In the study, sixty overweight people were randomly assigned to take a placebo or CLA for twelve weeks. The main objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of different doses of CLA given from 1.7 grams to 6.8 grams per day, compared to placebo. Results showed measurable improvement in the body’s fat mass. The study indicates that 3.4 grams of CLA per day is enough to obtain all the beneficial effects on body fat.
CLA can be found in the milk and meat of ruminant animals and can also be produced synthetically from oils. Consuming such products may give a natural source of CLA in the human diet. Potential benefits of CLA include cancer reduction (affecting the breast, stomach, colon, prostate and skin), heart disease reduction (reduces plaque formation and causes plaque regression, lowers cholesterol and may act as an antioxidant), reduction of body fat and increase in lean body mass, lower risk of diabetes and enhanced bone formation.
Increasing CLA in milk and effectively incorporating CLA into the human diet is an area where both dairy industry and non-dairy companies have shown interest, with the potential to develop the use of the substance in human and animal applications. Researchers are examining ways CLA can be increased naturally in dairy products. CLA is widely available in Europe and the United States as an over-the-counter dietary supplement.
For more information on CLA: www.nutrition.org.
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