Effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acids in the control of adiposity and obesity‐related disorders

Abstract

AbstractThe body fat‐lowering effect of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in experimental animals has attracted much interest because of the potential use of CLA as weight loss agents in humans. The objective of this review was to give an overview of the results from human intervention trials. The review also addresses experimental studies in animal models and in cultured cells. CLA appear to provoke fat mass loss and an increase of fat‐free mass in rodents, but the results in humans are inconsistent and much less clear than in rodents. Thus, the results of studies in humans do not support a body fat‐lowering effect of CLA. There are indications from animal studies that the trans‐10, cis‐12 CLA isomer induces liver steatosis and insulin resistance due to a redistribution of fat deposition. Some studies suggest that the trans‐10, cis‐12 isomer induces insulin resistance in obese subjects. In addition, no major effect of CLA on plasma lipids was detected in human studies. An overview of the potential mechanisms involved in the anti‐obesity effect of CLA in animals and humans is provided. Do draw conclusions on CLA supplementation effects on human health, further human studies are required.