Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) sometimes known as Tonilin has been used for weight reduction for some time. As with most supplements/vitamins or herbs we need more studies. Of course, I would love to see double blind placebo studies but it is not always possible financially to do this. More than 10 years ago in the journal Nutrition a study was published using 63 individuals with body mass index from 24 - 35 who received 1.7 grams of CLA or a placebo of salad oil in 200 cc of milk twice a day for two weeks. CLA was beneficial in reducing obesity
Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid found mainly in meat and dairy products derived from cud chewing mammals called ruminants. As the name implies, the double bonds of CLAs are conjugated, with only one single bond between them. In 1979, researchers from the University of Wisconsin applied a beef extract to mice skin. The mice were then exposed to a strong carcinogen. When the researchers counted the number of tumors that had developed by the mice 16 weeks later, they found to their surprise, that the mice exposed to the beef extract had 20% fewer tumors. The identity of this anti carcinogen was not discovered until almost a decade later, in 1987. Michael Pariza, the scientist who discovered CLA, later remarked that "few anti carcinogens, and certainly no other known fatty acids, are as effective as CLA in inhibiting carcinogenesis in these models. I have even researched the use of CLA in inflammatory bowel disease."
I have seen CLA work in those with high to very high BMI (body mass index). For those individuals who want to lose a little weight (5-15 lbs) I have seen little results. The two groups were evaluated for body composition, including total body weight, BMI, total fat mass, fat percentage, subcutaneous fat, and waist to hip ratio. As long as those individuals were being evaluated for the above, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, (TC) triglycerides (TG) low density lipoprotein ( LDL) and high density lipoprotein ( HDL) were also monitored. Today patients would rather take Ozempic, Mountjaro or Wegovy and NOT change their dietary lifestyle
Females with a BMI greater than 27 did the best as far as weight loss. There was no significant change in the lipid panel. I expected this, as in the past CLA has never been used to reduce the cholesterol panel.
The research concluded that the supplementation of CLA for twelve weeks yielded lower obesity indices for the obese patients.
Take CLA and other supplements and change your dietary lifestyle