Study Shows CLA Effective When Adults Are Susceptible to Weight and Fat Gain
A scientific study published
today offers consumers new hope that they can avoid weight and fat gain
during the infamous “food holidays” in November and December, as well as
the gains that come with the normal aging process.
A study in the prestigious International Journal of Obesity suggests
that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid,
could have long-term health benefits by preventing common weight and fat
gain attributable to overeating and aging. These findings are consistent
with past scientific trials of the popular dietary supplement.
Prof. Dale Schoeller, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison and a
principal author of the study published today, recognized that “small,
often cumulative weight gains during the holiday season contribute to
‘weight creep’ during adulthood.” He sought to determine if CLA would help
overweight adults reduce body fat and prevent weight gain during a
six-month period that included the holiday season.
The dramatic findings showed that participants taking CLA supplements
did reduce body fat by 2.2 pounds and their body weight by 1.3 pounds. In
comparison, those in the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds of body fat and
2.4 pounds of body weight during the test period.
“These findings suggest that CLA may serve a critical role in reducing
the cumulative weight and fat gain that occurs with age,” Schoeller said.
“About 65 percent of the U.S. population is obese or overweight — that’s a
dangerous trend on many levels. We need more research like this to help
overweight individuals when they are susceptible to weight gain.”
The UW study involved 40 healthy, overweight men and women who took 3.2
grams of CLA or a placebo daily from August 2004 to March 2005.
Participants followed “healthy lifestyle” advice, were not restricted by a
controlled diet, and participated in moderate physical activity.
Researchers conducting the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled
study concluded that CLA supplementation is safe and well-tolerated.
Past studies have found that taking CLA decreases body fat mass,
maintains lean body mass, and aids weight management-reducing the “yo yo”
effect often associated with diet plans. A 12-month study published in late
2005 by the Journal of Nutrition found that adults taking a CLA supplement
lost as much as 9 percent of their body fat. As important, a follow-up
12-month study found that participants did not regain their body fat.
CLA is naturally found in dairy and meat from ruminant animals. But,
because cattle are increasingly grain-fed, instead of grass-fed, and due to
changes in consumer dietary habits, it’s very difficult to obtain an
optimal level of CLA without supplementation. To get three grams of CLA
through food alone, an adult would have to consume more than four gallons
of ice cream or 28 quarter-pound hamburgers every day.
CLA lowers the amount of fat normally stored after meals, helping the
body to break down and use fat. Supplementation with CLA is most effective
as part of a daily regimen that includes exercise and a reasonable diet.
The CLA used in this study was Tonalin(R) CLA, an exclusive product
from Cognis Group. Tonalin(R) CLA, the number-one consumer brand of CLA, is
derived from natural safflower oil and is the most clinically tested CLA on
the market. Tonalin(R) CLA is stimulant-free and is available in health
food stores, retail chains and online.
Christine Peggau, senior marketing manager at Cognis, said, “This
latest science-based study offers a profound new way to begin tackling the
obesity trend. If we can help overweight consumers when they need it most
– during the food-filled holiday season and as they age — then this
research suggests we will begin to see life-long benefits.”
