Twelve weeks CLA supplementation decreases the hip circumference in overweight and obese women. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
What this study found
CLA did not reduce body weight, BMI, or waist circumference after 12 weeks. It significantly reduced hip circumference versus placebo (p=0.016209); 27/32 CLA participants vs 14/30 placebo participants showed hip circumference reduction (84.4% vs 46.7%; p=0.0017; NNT=2.65). This suggests a localized hip fat reduction and potential as a dietary supplement, though not a general weight-loss agent. Larger, longer-term randomized trials are needed.
- Study & population
- Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; overweight/obese adult women (BMI 28–42 kg/m^2; age ≥18) recruited at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland (July 2014–May 2015).
- Intervention
- Conjugated linoleic acid (3 g/day), 12 weeks, taken as 2 capsules three times daily with meals.
- Key limitation
- Small sample size and short duration; 62 of 74 randomized completed the study; dropouts may bias results; findings limited to overweight/obese women; adherence to diet and supplement not exhaustively controlled.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
BACKGROUND Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces body weight (BW), body fat mass (BFM), and increases or maintains lean body mass in animals. However, the results concerning the effect of CLA on weight reduction in humans are contradictory. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CLA supplementation on the BW and anthropometric parameters (waist and hip circumferences) in overweight and obese adult women. METHODS A total of 74 subjects (BMI: 28-42 kg/m2) were included in a double blind, placebocontrolled trial. Subjects were randomized into two groups, those supplemented with either 3.0 g/d CLA or with placebo (sunflower oil) for 12 weeks. RESULTS CLA significantly decreased the hip circumferences compared to placebo (p = 0.016209), but had no effect on body weight, BMI, or waist circumference. The number of subjects with a reduction in hip circumference in the CLA group was significantly larger compared to that in the placebo group (p = 0.0017; NNT= 2.65; CI [6.27-1.685]). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our findings do not support the hypothesis that 12 weeks CLA supplementation, as dosed in the present study, is effective for body weight reduction in overweight and obese women. However, its local action in decreasing the hip circumference seems to be encouraging and suggests that CLA may represent an attractive dietary supplement.