The supplement CLA (Conjugated linoleic acid) has become fairly popular as a weight loss tool to reduce body fat . Some manufacturers and marketing companies have praised CLA for its influence on reducing the risk of diabetes, and even some forms of cancer .
According to researchers, however, mice and rats were studied to find out their response to CLA, in trials at the Ohio State University. Despite losing weight extremely fast, mice in the study accumulated excess liver fat . This trait is linked to insulin resistance, a indicator for metabolic syndromen, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes itself.
An associate professor in human nutrition who led the study, Martha Belury, commented: “Many people take CLA as a supplement in hopes of trimming body fat, and it seems to work. But we’re not sure what else it does to the body. Studying CLA’s effects in two different animal models may help us to better understand any additional effects in humans. It seems that these mice and rats represent a continuum of possible side effects induced by CLA. The question is, are humans more like mice or rats? We’re probably somewhere in between.”
Both studies are to be published. The journal of Lipid Research will publish the mouse study, whilst the rat study will see print in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
What's new on the forum? ⭐️
Get our free newsletters
Stay up to date with the latest news, research and breakthroughs.