Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for twelve weeks increases lean body mass in obese humans.

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, CLA did not reduce body weight or body fat mass, but the 6.4 g/day dose increased lean body mass. Lean body mass changed by 0.64 kg with 6.4 g/day (P < 0.05) and by 0.65 kg with 3.2 g/day (P = 0.18), while resting energy expenditure and respiratory quotient did not change in any group. The higher dose also increased inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (P = 0.03), IL-6 (P = 0.04), and white blood cells (P = 0.005), and altered several laboratory values. Adverse events were reported by 13 participants (27%) overall.

Study & population

Randomized, placebo-controlled, 12-week trial in healthy obese adults aged 18 to 50 years with BMI 30 to 35 kg/m^2, who were nonsmokers and had no chronic disease.

Intervention

Two oral conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) regimens were tested: 3.2 g/day and 6.4 g/day, using Tonalin capsules containing cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 isomers in a 50:50 ratio.

Key limitation

The active arms were small (n = 16 each), the intervention lasted only 12 weeks, and the population was limited to otherwise healthy obese adults, which restricts generalizability.

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Original abstract