University Report: The Impact of CLA Supplement on Body Composition

This report examines the efficacy of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) supplements in altering body composition and promoting weight loss. It reviews various studies, including animal trials and human interventions, to assess the evidence base. While some animal studies have shown positive results, the human trials present mixed findings. The report highlights the contradictory evidence, with some studies indicating a positive impact on body fat reduction and lean mass, while others show no significant effect. Factors such as dosage, isomer composition, sample sizes, and study design are discussed as potential contributors to the inconsistent outcomes. The report also addresses the safety profile of CLA supplements and the need for long-term human intervention studies to establish definitive conclusions. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current research, exploring both the potential benefits and limitations of CLA supplementation in the context of clinical nutrition and weight management.

Running Head: CLINICAL NUTRITION
CLINICAL NUTRITION
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA is a popular supplement that finds extensive use in the
fitness industry. The product is widely advertised as a supplement that can potentially alter
the existing body mass and composition (Hur et al. 2009). In this regard, it should be noted
that the evidence base reveals that several animal trials have been conducted on models such
as mice, which has yielded positive results. A study conducted by Part et al. (1997) showed
that the administration of CLA helped to reduce 60% of the body fat in mice. After successful
animal trials such as this. Many studies have been conducted on humans. However, the
results have not been remarkable. Various randomized controlled trials have attempted to
evaluate the efficacy of CLA in inducing weight loss in humans, but the evidence is not
convincing to establish any clinical relevance for the long term effects on body composition
(Onakpoya et al. 2012). Another study reviewed the available literature that indicates the
beneficial action of CLA supplementation for weight loss in humans. The findings generated
an uncertain and inconclusive conclusion, primarily regarding the dosage and safety profile
of the commercial CLA supplements. The reported adverse effects associated with the
consumption of CLA also further reduces its capacity to be administered with full confidence
as a weight loss agent (Lehnen et al. 2015). The main reason why evidence regarding the
efficacy of CLA in weight reduction seems to be insufficient and inconclusive is the
unavailability of long term human intervention studies, which can establish the health
benefits exerted by CLA supplements without any safety or toxicity concern. Another
drawback in the study findings is due to the uniform distribution of doses in the trial subjects,
small sample sizes, uneven demographic characteristics, different doses and composition in
the isomers of the CLA supplements, all of which reduce the reliability of the human
interventions because of large variance and difficulty in interpretation of the findings.
However, it is important to note in this context that a significant number of research studies
have, however, proven that administration of CLA in humans does elicit a positive impact

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and help to enhance anti-obesity mechanisms. Reported evidence from multiple studies has
elucidated the proven benefits of CLA on body composition. CLA supplement preparation
containing the ratio of c9,t11 isomer and t10,c12 isomer has so far demonstrated positive
impact in human interventions. Most of the human trials have focused on changes related to
body fat mass, and lean mass as the chief results. The efficacy and tolerability of daily CLA
intake were investigated in a pilot study, which displayed a significant body fat reduction in
the study group after 12 weeks as compared to the placebo group, with no other aderse
effects. Studies have now confirmed that it is safe to consume supplementation of CLA
isomers for one year at a dose of 6 grams per day in healthy overweight or obese individuals
(O’Sheaa, Van Der Zeeb, and Mohedeb 2019).
On the other hand, there is contradictory evidence that has shown that administration of CLA
does not significantly improve body composition or act against obesity mechanisms. Few
studies have also reported the presence of an inverse relationship between CLA intake and
body composition. It was found that in obese men and women, who were subjected to daily
dietary consumption of pure CLA (90%) mixed in an equal ratio of CLA isomers, there were
no observed changes in their body composition. Similar results were obtained in other trials
with sedentary young women as well as overweight males (Benjamin et al. 2015). Studies
which have obesity metrics as their endpoint outcome have been successful in exhibiting the
potential weight loss properties of CLA and the underlying mechanism of action.
It is also worth noting here that there are not many research studies available that could
support the proposed CLA interventions and its positive impact on obesity control
mechanisms (Madri et al. 2016; Derakhshande-Rishehri et al. 2015). However, the long term
impact of the intervention is questionable, and this accounts for the reason why this research
intends to evaluate the evidence base in order to determine that whether or not the
administration of CLA can have a positive impact on the body composition of humans.

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References
Benjamin, S., Prakasan, P., Sreedharan, S., Wright, A.D.G. and Spener, F., 2015. Pros and
cons of CLA consumption: an insight from clinical evidences. Nutrition & metabolism, 12(1),
p.4.
Derakhshande-Rishehri, S.M., Mansourian, M., Kelishadi, R. and Heidari-Beni, M., 2015.
Association of foods enriched in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and CLA supplements with
lipid profile in human studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public health nutrition,
18(11), pp.2041-2054.
Lehnen, T.E., da Silva, M.R., Camacho, A., Marcadenti, A. and Lehnen, A.M., 2015. A
review on effects of conjugated linoleic fatty acid (CLA) upon body composition and
energetic metabolism. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12(1), p.36.
Mądry, E., Chudzicka-Strugała, I., Grabańska-Martyńska, K., Malikowska, K., Grebowiec,
P., Lisowska, A., Bogdański, P. and Walkowiak, J., 2016. Twelve weeks CLA
supplementation decreases the hip circumference in overweight and obese women. A double-
blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia
Alimentaria, 15(1), pp.107-113.
O’Sheaa, M., Van Der Zeeb, M. and Mohedeb, I., 2019. CLA sources and human studies.
Healthful Lipids, p.249.
Onakpoya, I.J., Posadzki, P.P., Watson, L.K., Davies, L.A. and Ernst, E., 2012. The efficacy
of long-term conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on body composition in
overweight and obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
clinical trials. European journal of nutrition, 51(2), pp.127-134.

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