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Cla3.0

CLA Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalLimited safety

4 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most CLA studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from medium-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2002–2012 with a typical study size of 60 participants.

Based on 4 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 1 RCT · 60 total participants

Confidence

High

By outcome

Weight managementSmall, inconsistent fat-mass reduction (~1-1.3 kg over months) of uncertain clinical relevance; no reliable effect on body weight · 3-6 months (if any)
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study

Older research base

Newest study from 2012 · Latest meta-analysis: 2012

200220072012

1RCTn=60 · small study2002

Unexpectedly, t10c12 CLA increased insulin resistance (19%) and glycemia (4%) and reduced HDL cholesterol compared with placebo.

Risérus U, Arner P, Brismar K, Vessby B. · Diabetes Care (2002)

Randomized double-blind controlled trial in 60 abdominally obese men over 12 weeks
Purified t10c12 CLA increased insulin resistance ~19% and raised glycemia ~4% versus placebo
t10c12 lowered HDL cholesterol; the CLA mixture also lowered HDL modestly

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2Meta-Analysis2012

The evidence from RCTs does not convincingly show that CLA intake generates any clinically relevant effects on body composition on the long term.

Onakpoya IJ, Posadzki PP, Watson LK, Davies LA, Ernst E. · Eur J Nutr (2012)

Of 15 RCTs identified, only 7 met inclusion criteria; 4 had serious methodological flaws
Small statistically significant weight loss favoring CLA (-0.70 kg) and fat loss (-1.33 kg) versus placebo
Authors state the magnitude is small and the clinical relevance uncertain

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3Meta-Analysis2007

Given at a dose of 3.2 g/d, CLA produces a modest loss in body fat in humans.

Whigham LD, Watras AC, Schoeller DA. · Am J Clin Nutr (2007)

Meta-analysis of 18 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials
At ~3.2 g/day, fat loss was about 0.09 kg/week versus placebo — modest
Isomer-comparison results were inconclusive

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4Review2004

None of the studies found a significant reduction in body weight, and only 2 studies showed a significant but relatively small body fat-lowering effect.

Terpstra AH. · Am J Clin Nutr (2004)

Narrative review of early human CLA trials
No study found a significant reduction in body weight
Only 2 of the reviewed studies showed a small significant fat-lowering effect

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View in Research Library

CLA Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Treatment with dietary trans10cis12 conjugated linoleic acid causes isomer-specific insulin resistance in obese men with the metabolic syndrome.

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.

Efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans.

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on body composition and plasma lipids in humans: an overview of the literature.