What Is Conjugated Linoleic Acid?

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is an altered form of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. CLA is found naturally within red meat and dairy products, however modern intensive farming methods have reduced the levels of CLA naturally occurring. Taking additional CLA in supplement form can help to redress this.

What Is Conjugated Linoleic Acid Used For?

Conjugated linoleic acid is thought to help the body to reduce fat while maintaining lean muscle mass. Other properties are also thoght to include maintaining a healthy cardiovascular and immune system.

Key Benefits

Reduce body fat
Maintains lean muscle mass while dieting
Maintains a healthy cardiovascular system

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CLA Frequently Asked Questions

What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)?

Linoleic acid (LA) is an omega-6 fatty acid, and is essential to the body. But, because the human body cannot produce (synthesize) LA, it must be obtained from various nut and vegetable oils in the diet. Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, contains a mixture of more than two dozen special chemical forms of LA. Compared to LA, CLA has very different sources and effects.

CLA is a trans fatty acid and cannot be synthesized by the human body. Many trans fats can have harmful effects on the body, especially trans fats that have been hydrogenated. Natural CLA, however, has demonstrated several beneficial health effects without harmful side effects.


Where does CLA come from?

The main dietary source of CLA is meat and dairy products. The food obtained from grass-fed animals have significantly higher levels of both CLA and omega 3 fatty acids than grain-fed animals. Because animals are typically grain-fed on modern farms, CLA supplementation may be helpful.

What health benefits has CLA demonstrated?

Four of the many important health effects of diets high in CLA or being supplemented with CLA are:
1. Increased cancer fighting activity and reduced chances of getting cancer,
2. Stronger immune system,
3. Weight loss and a reduction of body fat in obese subjects, and
4. Lower levels of LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in the blood.

How does CLA help fight cancer?

CLA’s property as a strong antioxidant means that it can help control free radical molecules, which can damage cells. Because of its unique structure and function, CLA also has properties that inhibit cells from breaking down and becoming cancerous.

How does CLA help reduce body fat?

CLA actually changes the composition of the body by reducing the amount of fat tissue while preserving muscle tissue. CLA works either by causing the death of fat cells or by keeping them from growing. Although CLA is not a protein, those taking CLA are more likely to gain muscle mass than to gain belly fat. This makes for a lean body that will typically burn fat, have a higher metabolism, and lose weight.

Why is CLA supplementation needed?

CLA content is higher in meat and dairy animals that are grass-fed, but most are now grain-fed. Because fewer animals graze, the possibility of obtaining sufficient CLA through the diet is greatly reduced. In addition, the consumption of dairy and meat products is discouraged in many officially recommended diets.

With a reduced consumption of important fatty acids such as CLA and omega-3, diets are higher in manufactured foods such as margarine and corn oil. These widely used foods increase the dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids to unhealthy levels. All of the fatty acids need to stay in proper balance in order to maintain good health.

These facts encourage taking two important steps toward establishing optimum nutrition.
1. Take a CLA vitamin supplement.
2. Reducing the consumption of omega-6 oils, including both LA and GLA (gamma linoleic acid)..

Where can CLA be purchased?

Read reviews and buy online for the best CLA nutritional supplement at the cheapest prices. Pure 1000mg CLA capsules are reviewed and sold on this site. CLA is also available in powder form or in tablets and softgels containing from 500mg to 1500mg.

What is the proper CLA dosage?

The proper dosage is based upon individual needs. Research indicates that about 3.3 grams of CLA per day is the maximum beneficial amount. Taking more CLA than this provides little if any further benefits.

Does CLA have any negative side effects?

As with some of CLA’s benefits, harmful effects and any interactions with other supplements or drugs are not clinically verified. Of course, as with any supplement, caution should be exercised by children under 12, pregnant or lactating women, and those with a serious medical condition. Always take CLA as directed and see a general practitioner if there are any questions

Caution should also be exercised when taking a particular chemical form or isomer of CLA. Since CLA was identified in the 1980s, it has been the focus of many dozens of controlled studies and large samplings of dietary habits. Recently, researchers have studied and compared the effects of separate isomers of CLA. Results are mixed with different isomers having different effects, often both good and bad effects. Until the results are definitive, purchase normal CLA with its mixture of over two dozen chemical forms and, ideally, with its source from organic, grass-fed animals