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Review Cla (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
More than a weight-loss wonder ¡PPromotes decreases in body fat ¡PSupport increases in lean body mass ¡PMaintain healthy inflammation response ¡P Enhances immune function ¡PProvides antioxidant protection CLA has gained much acclaim for its safe and effective weight-loss benefits. However, CLA is not just a weight-loss wonder. In addition to promoting weight loss and reduced body fat, CLA enhances immunity, supports a healthy inflammation response and is a potent provider of antioxidant protection. CLA reduces body fat by several mechanisms, including a reduced energy intake (and) increased metabolic rate. Am J Physiol 1998, Sept; 275 (3 Pt 2) ¡§CLA may be a valuable weight management supplement to any diet regime. Keeping lean body mass and speeding up fat loss are the keys to a successful weight loss program.¡¨ Jan Wadstein, M.D., Ph.D, associate professor of medicine at Lund University in Sweden. I really like the CLA. After two months, the results are amazing! Susan Gordon, Santa Barbara REAP THE BENEFITS FROM THIS ALL-NATURAL MULTI-FACTED NUTRIENT. What is CLA? Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid related to the omega-6 fatty acids - one of the two types of essential fatty acids. Although CLA occurs naturally in meat and dairy products, most people do not consume adequate amounts through diet alone. Where is CLA derived from? CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is a free fatty acid derived from safflower oil. Scientists estimate that our food supply once contained much higher levels of CLA before the advent of modern agriculture. Normally we would receive CLA through a diet complete with healthy amounts of beef and diary foods. However, changes during the last 30 years to cattle farming (grain fed vs. grass fed) along with low-fat dairy products have drastically reduced the amount of CLA people acquire through diet. Want to slim down for the summer? CLA has gained much acclaim for its safe and effective weight-loss benefits. In fact, several scientific studies have backed up CLA¡¦s use as a weight-loss agent. Not only does CLA help you lose fat, but it also has the added benefit of helping develop lean muscle mass. In a random-double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 20 healthy humans of normal body weight and body mass index less than 25.0 kg/m2, who did standardized physical exercise in a gym for 90 min three times weekly, CLA reduced body fat. Participants took either placebo (hydrogel) or CLA 0.6 mg, three times daily, as two capsules during meals, for 12 weeks. Body fat, measured using near infrared light, was significantly reduced in the CLA group during the study, but not in the placebo group. ,(Source: Thom E, Wadstein J, Gudmundsen O. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat in healthy exercising humans. J Int Med Res 2001 Sep-Oct;29(5):392-6.) In another study of the metabolic benefits of CLA, fifty-three healthy men and women, aged 23-63, were randomly assigned to supplementation with CLA (4.2 g/d) or the same amount of olive oil during 12 wk in a double-blind fashion. The proportion of body fat decreased (-3.8%, P< 0.001) in the CLA-treated group, with a significant difference from the control group (P = 0.050). (Source: Smedman A, Vessby B. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in humans - metabolic effects. Lipids 2001 Aug;36(8):773-81.) Further investigating (and confirming) CLA¡¦s benefits, in a four-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled study, researchers investigated the short-term effect of CLA on abdominal fat and cardiovascular risk factors on 25 abdominally obese men ages 39 to 64. Fourteen men received 4.2 g/day CLA and 10 men received placebo. After four weeks, there was a significant decrease in Sagittal Abdominal Diameter (cm) in the CLA group compared with placebo. (Source: Riserus U. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduced abdominal adipose tissue in obese middle-aged men with signs of the metabolic syndrome: a randomized, controlled trial. Int J Obes 2001 Aug 25(8):1129-35.) In a 2000 study, people who took CLA had significant reduction in body fat gain with no serious side effects. The findings published in The Journal of Nutrition (December 2000, Volume 130 #12) reported that people taking this supplement lost "statistically significant amounts of weight" without otherwise changing their diets. Time and again, the results come back telling the amazing success story of CLA for fat loss and lean muscle gain. Researchers have also discovered that CLA reduces body fat by increasing basal metabolic rates, which means the body becomes more efficient at processing the same quantity of food consumed. Are you looking for better antioxidant protection? CLA is a powerful antioxidant agent. In the body it is taken up by phospholipids, a class of fats that serve as the principal structural components of cell membranes. CLA enhances the cell membrane¡¦s defense mechanism against attack by free radicals. Free radicals can dangerously alter the shape and form of a cell if left to their own devices. Antioxidant activity in a test-tube model has shown that, in a mixture of one part CLA to 1000 parts linoleic acid, peroxide formation on the linoleic acid was reduced by more than 90%. In one study, antioxidant activity was observed with only 0.25% CLA in the diet. Comparative studies have shown that CLA is approximately two times more powerful an antioxidant than beta-carotene and yet another study concluded that CLA ¡§may produce substances which protect cells from the detrimental effect of peroxides¡¨ (J Am Coll Nutr 2000 Apr;19(2 Suppl): 111S-118S.) Peroxides are one type of ¡¥free radical¡¦ that can cause permanent cell damage. The anti-oxidant properties of CLA also contribute to its immune strengthening activities. Do you need natural inflamation support? CLA may also stimulate the production of key immune system cells and inhibit the release of an immunoglobulin associated with allergies. CLA influences the PPAR-gamma agonist, a class of internal cell receptors that are capable of suppressing the manifestations of inflammatory conditions, in an animal model. Research has isolated PPAR-gamma as the specific cell receptor involved in chronic inflammatory responses. CLA¡¦s production of important immune-suppressing compounds such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins, make it a valuable nutrient for improving the body¡¦s inflammation response. Review Cla (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) Professional advice on diet programs and weight loss products designed for optimal weight loss. Healthy! Effective! Safe! |
