A: One of the best studies on CLA involved a trial lasting one year. One hundred and eighty overweight male and female volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups: CLA –free fatty acid (FFA), CLA-triacylglycerol, or placebo (olive oil). Researchers found that the average body fat mass in the CLA-triacylglycerol and CLA-FFA groups was 9 percent and 7 percent lower than the placebo group. Also, subjects receiving CLA-FFA had 2 percent greater lean body mass than subjects receiving placebo.

Perhaps what was so intriguing about the study was that these changes were not associated with diet or exercise. Meaning, CLA did this by itself. And to top it off, no adverse events occurred in the CLA-consuming groups. The fact that they supplemented for one year does indeed prove that if you stick to the supplements regimen, you will see significant results.

Am J Clin Nutr, 2004; 79(6): 1118-25

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