Effects of 12 weeks Treatment with Conjugated Linoleic acid Supplementation on Body Fat Mass and Lipid Metabolism in Healthy, Obese Individuals-A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: obesity is a condition characterized by accumulation of excess body fat and associated with risk for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Therefore, management of obesity and body weight are increasingly considered an important approach for maintaining healthy cholesterol profiles and reducing cardiovascular risk which endangers the life of an individual. Objectives: The objective is to study the effects of Conjugated linoleic acid in reducing body fat mass and lipid profile, to estimate HS-CRP and to observe the adverse effects during the study period. Methodology: This is a pilot study and is a hospital based prospective, interventional, open, non-randomized clinical study. In the study group, 22 patients are included who fulfill the inclusion criteria. Baseline values of lipid profile and HS- CRP are recorded and body fat measurement done with the help of Omron Karada scan at baseline and at the end of three months treatment. Anthropometric measurements are also noted at baseline and at the end of three months. Lipid profile and HS-CRP noted again at the end of the study. Results: The pilot study was conducted for a period of 3 months from 20-10-2016 up to 20-1-2017. Initially 22 patients were enrolled for the study and there are 2 dropouts after 1 month of initiation of the study. In the remaining 20 subjects weight reduction of 5-8 % was observed in 12 patients. In 2 patients there is reduction in skin fold thickness and in one patient fat percentage reduced though there is no much reduction of weight. In 5 subjects there is no change in body weight, fat percentage or skin fold thickness. No adverse events observed in any of the subjects. Interpretation and conclusion: From the above results it was observed that there is weight reduction with Conjugated linoleic acid, the test drug as well as reduction of body fat and skin fold thickness. There are no adverse events observed. The above findings are to be verified in the full scale study and after that it can be concluded that the drug might be useful in the treatment of diet induced obesity.