Conjugated Linoleic Acid CLA Dietary Supplement

refers to a family of eight geometric isomers of linoleic acid, which is found preferentially in dairy products and meat.

Conjugated linoleic acid is a trans fat, though some researchers claim that it is less harmful than other trans fatty acids. CLA is a Conjugated system, and the trans linkages are not counted as trans fat for the purposes of nutritional regulations and labeling.

Many studies on CLA in humans show a tendency for reduced body fat, particularly abdominal fat, changes in serum total lipids and decreased whole body glucose uptake.

Dietary CLA supplementation does not seem to have any adverse effects. The maximum reduction in body fat mass was achieved with a 3.4 g daily dose. Some people see results as soon as two weeks. Other people see results in about six weeks. What people typically notice before an earth-shattering decrease in weight, is that their clothing begins to fit more loosely.

FLU INFO

Overweight and obese patients who used a conjugated linoleic acid supplement for six months reduced abdominal fat, but that reduction failed to increase insulin sensitivity, recent research reports.

After six months, patients in the conjugated linoleic acid group had reduced body fat mass by 5.6% (P=0.004 compared with placebo) and the reduction in fat mass was observed beginning at three months, she said.

Among the findings:
At three months, patients in the conjugated linoleic acid group had lost an average of 0.7 kg (1.54 pounds).
In women fat reduction occurred in abdomen and legs, but in men fat loss was confined to the abdomen.
After six months the average weight loss was 1.5 kg or about 3.3 pounds (P=0.05 compared with placebo).

Conjugated Linoleic Acid CLA is typically found in capsules or softgels between potencies between 600mg and 1000mg. 

All preliminary evidence shows that CLA is nontoxic and safe at recommended dosages. Although all the intricacies of CLA are not fully understood, it is widely accepted in the research community that CLA counterbalances the negative effects of linoleic acid and regulates fat and protein metabolism in animals.

From the TONALIN CLA site:

Studies show that CLA reduces body fat and weight in four ways:

• By decreasing the amount of fat that is stored after eating

• By increasing the rate of fat breakdown in fat cells

• By increasing the rate of fat metabolism

• By decreasing the number of fat cells

Tonalin CLA prevents fat from being deposited into the cells by speeding up the body's fat metabolism. CLA also helps the body metabolize existing fat deposits. This fat then returns to the blood stream where it is used as energy by muscle cells and the liver.
 

Sources: Wikipedia - Various Press Releases and web sites