Body Fat In Animals Research Articles

Maternal effects and the legacy of extreme environmental events for wild mammals.

Maternal effects and the legacy of extreme environmental events for wild mammals.

Detection of adulteration in market ghee using FT-IR Spectroscopy

Abstract: Dairy ghee is a prominent synergistic fat product that is comprised of various health benefiting compounds such as milk fat globule membrane, conjugated linoleic acid, and short-chain free fatty acids. It emanates numerous beneficial actions on human heath are anticancer, antidiabetic, anticholesterolemic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiatherogenic and anitadipogenic properties. In order to increase the quantity for marketing purposes, ghee is adulterated with low quality fats. These adulterated low quality fats have long-chain fatty acids and trans-fats which causes cardiac diseases, obesity and renal dysfunction. Hence, the present study aimed to detect the adulterant in ghee by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method. It also shows the quantitative increase of adulterated animal body fat with ghee. The peak C=C increases with the raise of alkene concentration. The N-H bend peak, which represents amines, determines the trans-fat adulteration, causes health-related issues. Thus, FT-IR technique proved the ideal tools for detecting and estimating the degree of ghee adulteration. Keywords: FT-IR, Ghee, Adulteration, Commercial brands, Beef fat.

Applications of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in Oils and Fats Research. A Review

This review is designed to be a comprehensive review in a new way to help you to understand the principle and theory of Thermal Analysis with special emphasis on Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) as a new fast-growing and important technique used for authentication, characterization and detecting adulterations of oils and fats. DSC is a powerful instrument that measures the energy absorbed or released as a function of time or a controlled temperature profile. The sensor of the DSC is the heat flux plate which is designed to give superior performance and rugged reliability. The heat flux plate is capable of measuring small energy changes over the entire temperature range. Examples of measurements with DSC are Oxidative Stability, Melting Enthalpy, Glass Transition, Heat of Crystallization, Purity Determination and Heat Capacity. DSC can be used as a rapid method for assessment of oxidative stability, prediction of shelf life and evaluation of the quality of edible oils during refining. DSC holds a potential to be used as the reliable and reproducible technique for the detection of adulteration of animal body fat added in ghee individually and in combination of vegetable oil. DSC method is faster, require less sample size and no chemicals or solvents compared to other conventional, modern oxidative stability methods and conventional shelf life estimation.

A simple method to evaluate body condition score to maintain the optimal body weight in dogs.

Overweight and obesity induce serious health problems that exert negative effects on dog’s welfare. Body condition score (BCS) is a common method to evaluate the body fat mass in animals. By palpating and observing fats under the skin it is possible to predict animal’s body fat accumulation condition. BCS is also a useful tool to estimate body fat composition in dogs. However, BCS can be subjective when it was performed by non-professionals like pet’s owners. To develop a method to avoid the misevaluation of BCS twenty-four Beagles were enrolled and performed BCS evaluation. In addition, the length of chest and abdominal girths were measured. In correlation analysis, the sizes of chest and abdominal girth were significantly correlated with BCS. Especially, the difference and ratio of the chest and abdominal length were highly correlated with the BCS. With that, we suggested that this simple measurement of chest and abdominal girths by a measuring tape would be an effective method to estimate BCS scores in dogs that helps non-professionals to manage their own dog’s nutritional condition by monitoring body fat accumulation condition.

A Systematic Scoping Review of Surgically Manipulated Adipose Tissue and the Regulation of Energetics and Body Fat in Animals.

Surgical manipulations of adipose tissue by removal, or partial lipectomy, have demonstrated body fat compensation and recovered body weight, suggesting that the body is able to resist changes to body composition. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations are not well-understood. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an update on what is currently known about the regulation of energetics and body fat after surgical manipulations of adipose tissue in small mammals. PubMed and SCOPUS were searched to identify n=64 eligible studies. Outcome measures included: body fat, body weight, food intake and circulating biomarkers. Surgeries performed included: lipectomy (72%) or transplantation (12%) in mice (35%), rats (35%), and other small mammals. Findings suggested that lipectomy did not have consistent long-term effects on reducing body weight and fat since regain occurred within 12–14 weeks post-surgery. Hence, biological feedback mechanisms act to resist long-term changes of body weight/fat. Further, whether this weight and fat regain occurred due to “passive” and “active” regulation under the “set-point” or “settling-points” theories cannot fully be discerned due to limitations in study designs and data collected. In conclusion, the regulation of energetics and body fat are complex and dynamic processes that require further studies of the interplay of genetic, physiological, and behavioral factors.

Evaluating methods to assess the body condition of female polar bears

An animal's body condition provides insight into its health, foraging success, and overall fitness. Measures of body composition including proportional fat content are useful indicators of condition. Isotopic dilution is a reliable non-destructive method for estimating the body composition of live mammals, but can require prolonged handling times. Alternatively, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has promise as a quick method for estimating the body composition of live mammals, but measurements can potentially be affected by field conditions. Body condition indices (BCI) and energy density models can also be used to assess body condition based on morphological measurements, but may not reliably reflect an animal's energy stores. Here we evaluate BIA, BCI, and an energy density model in measuring the energy stores of female polar bears (Ursus maritimus). We examine the relationship between total body fat (TBF) derived from isotopic dilution to these alternative methods for 9 female polar bears from 14 captures on the sea ice of the southern Beaufort Sea in April 2014–2016. An energy density model, BCI, and BIA-derived measures of TBF were poor predictors of TBF derived from isotopic dilution. We suggest energy density, BCI, and BIA may not be predictive of an animal's body fat at fine scales (e.g., among individuals within the same sex, reproductive status, and season). In particular, BIA should provide similar measures of body composition as isotopic dilution, but it failed to reliably measure TBF of individual bears. These limitations in the precision of body condition measures should be considered when planning future studies.

Application of attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) in MIR range coupled with chemometrics for detection of pig body fat in pure ghee (heat clarified milk fat)

Pure ghee is superior to other fats and oils due to the presence of bioactive lipids and its rich flavor. Adulteration of ghee with cheaper fats and oils is a prevalent fraudulent practice. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was coupled with chemometrics for the purpose of detection of presence of pig body fat in pure ghee. Pure mixed ghee was spiked with pig body fat @ 3, 4, 5, 10, 15% level. The spectra of pure (ghee and pig body fat) along with the spiked samples was taken in MIR from 4000 to 500 cm−1. Some wavenumber ranges were selected on the basis of differences in the spectra obtained. Separate clusters of the samples were obtained by employing principal component analysis at 5% level of significance on the selected wavenumber range. Probable class membership was predicted by applying SIMCA approach. Approximately, 90% of the samples classified into their respective class and pure ghee and pig body fat never misclassified themselves. The value of R2 was >0.99 for both calibration and validation sets using partial least square method. The study concluded that spiking of pig body fat in pure ghee can be detected even at a level of 3%. Practical applicationsThe adulteration of pure ghee with cheaper animal body fats is a menace and reports pertaining to the same appear in newspaper frequently. Lard, due to the presence of higher amount of fat, is a choice of unscrupulous manufacturers to be used for adulteration purposes. Thus, techniques for detection of presence of lard in pure ghee needs to be investigated. In this context, the present study was envisaged with the aim to detect presence of pig body fat in pure ghee by using ATR-FTIR. It can be seen that the strong absorbance at the specific wavenumber ranges (3030–2785, 1786–1680, 1490–919 cm−1) are seen in case of pig body fat and the samples spiked with the same and can be used as the regions for detecting the presence of pig body fat in pure ghee. The results of PCA, SIMCA and PLS statistically prove that the said region is good for detecting the presence of pig body fat in ghee, indicating the utility and robustness of the FTIR technique.

A species specific simplex polymerase chain reaction-based approach for detection of goat tallow in heat clarified milk fat (ghee)

ABSTRACTThe detection of milk fat adulteration with foreign fats/oils continues to be a challenge for the dairy industry as well as food testing laboratories. Recently, various chromatographic methods have been developed to detect a low level of vegetable oil in ghee but detection of animal body fat in ghee is still a challenge. In India, goat body fat (goat tallow) adulteration in ghee is a very serious problem. In the present investigation, a rapid species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methodology has been standardised to detect goat tallow in heat clarified milk fat (ghee). This standardised PCR-based protocol did not show any false positive results in the genuine ghee (heat clarified butter fat) samples. Adulteration of ghee (both cow and buffalo) with goat tallow at the 10% level could be detected using the standardised PCR-based protocol. The protocol standardised is rapid and convenient to use.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) Intake, A Mini Review

Conjugated linoleic acid or CLA, is among the bioactive components which are interesting for obesity treatment. It is a term that includes a conjugated isomer group of the linoleic acid, of which two of them cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 are capable of reducing body fat in animals and human beings. The best source of CLA in food is found in meat and dairy, which come from ruminants. The anti-obesity effect of the CLA has been demonstrated by the reduction on the indicators of the obesity, as body fat and waist circumference. Although the effect of CLA on the reduction of body fat is well known, it is important to make a distinction in the condition of patients and the consumed dose because CLA also has modified other cardiovascular risk markers. While the CLA intake has showed a positive effect and less cardiovascular related risk factors, also has increased the insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Therefore, the purpose of the present text was to review the most important aspects about the CLA intake in humans, like the dietary sources, the action mechanism and the clinical results.

Higher Dietary Choline and Betaine Intakes Are Associated with Better Body Composition in the Adult Population of Newfoundland, Canada.

BackgroundCholine is an essential nutrient and betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor. Both are important to maintain health including adequate lipid metabolism. Supplementation of dietary choline and betaine increase muscle mass and reduce body fat in animals. However, little data is available regarding the role of dietary choline and betaine on body composition in humans.ObjectiveTo investigate the association between dietary choline and betaine intakes with body composition in a large population based cross-sectional study.DesignA total of 3214 subjects from the CODING (Complex Disease in Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study were assessed. Dietary choline and betaine intakes were computed from the Willett Food Frequency questionnaire. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry following a 12-hour fast. Major confounding factors including age, sex, total calorie intake and physical activity level were controlled in all analyses.ResultSignificantly inverse correlations were found between dietary choline and betaine intakes, with all obesity measurements: total percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), percent android fat (%AF), percent gynoid fat (%GF) and anthropometrics: weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio in both women and men (r range from -0.13 to -0.47 for choline and -0.09 to -0.26 for betaine, p<0.001 for all). Dietary choline intake had stronger association than betaine. Moreover, obese subjects had the lowest dietary choline and betaine intakes, with overweight subjects in the middle, and normal weight subjects consumed the highest dietary choline and betaine (p<0.001). Vice versa, when subjects were ranked according to dietary choline and betaine intakes, subjects with the highest intake of both had the lowest %TF, %AF, %GF, %BF and highest %LM among the groups in both sexes.ConclusionOur findings indicate that high dietary choline and betaine intakes are significantly associated with favorable body composition in humans.

Adipogenic function and other biologic effects of insulin

Studies on experimental animals with knockout of the insulin receptor gene Insr (in the whole body or in certain tissues) and/or related genes encoding proteins involved in realization of insulin signal transduction in target cells, have made an important contribution to the elucidation of insulin regulation of metabolism, particularly fat metabolism. Since the whole insulin secreted by b-cells, together with the products of gastrointestinal tract digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates reach the liver, the latter is the first organ on which this hormone acts. The liver employs released amino acids for synthesis of proteins, including apoproteins for various lipoproteins. Glucose is used for synthesis of glycogen, fatty acids, and triglycerides, which enter all the organs in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). The LIRKO mice with knockout of the Insr gene in the liver demonstrated inhibition of synthesis of macromolecular compounds from amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids. Low molecular weight substances demonstrated increased entry to circulation, and together with other disorders induced hyperglycemia. In LIRKO mice blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance demonstrated time-dependent normalization and at later stages the increase in glucose levels was replaced by hypoglycemia. These changes can be well explained if we take into consideration that one of the main functions of insulin consists in stimulation of energy accumulation by means of activation of triglyceride deposition in adipose tissue. FIRKO mice with selective knockout of adipose tissue Insr were characterized by decreased uptake of glucose in adipocytes, and its transformation into lipids. However, the level of body fat in animals remained normal, possibly due to preserved insulin receptor in the liver and insulin-induced activation of triglyceride production which maintained normal levels of body fat stores, the effective functioning of adipose tissue and secretion of leptin by adipocytes during inhibition of glucose transformation into triglyceride in adipose tissue. Knockout of the Insr gene in muscles blocked glucose uptake by myocytes, but it did not induce hyperglycemia, probably due to the increase in glucose uptake by other organs, which retained the insulin receptor, and induced some increase in fat resources in adipose tissue. Similar results were obtained in mice with knockout the glucose transporter 4 GLUT4 in muscle and/or adipose tissue. Insulin microinjections in the brain, in the cerebral ventricle 4 (ICV) and mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) did not affect the insulin levels in the general circulation, but effectively activated lipogenesis and inhibited lipolysis in adipose tissue. They induced obesity, similar to conventional obesity when the insulin levels increased. These results may serve as additional evidence for importance of the adipogenic insulin function in mechanisms of regulation of general metabolism.

The adipogenic function and other biological effects of insulin

Studies on experimental animals with knockout of the insulin receptor gene (Insr) in the whole body or in certain tissues and/or related genes encoding proteins involved in realization of insulin signal transduction in target cells, have made an important contribution to the elucidation of insulin regulation of metabolism, particularly fat metabolism. Since the whole insulin secreted by β-cells, together with the products of gastrointestinal tract digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates reaches in the liver, the latter is the first organ on which this hormone acts. The liver employs released amino acids for synthesis of proteins, including apo-proteins for various lipoproteins. Glucose is used for synthesis of glycogen, fatty acids, and triglycerides, which enter all the organs in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). The LIRKO mice with knockout of the insr gene in the liver demonstrated inhibition of synthesis of macromolecular compounds from amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids. Low molecular weight substances demonstrated increased entry to circulation, and together with other disorders induced hyperglycemia. In LIRKO mice blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance demonstrated time-dependent normalization and at later stages the increase in glucose levels was replaced by hypoglycemia. These changes can be well explained if we take into consideration that one of the main functions of insulin consists in stimulation of energy accumulation by means of activation of triglyceride deposition in adipose tissue. FIRKO mice with selective knockout of adipose tissue Insr were characterized by decreased uptake of glucose in adipocytes, and its transformation into lipids. However, the level of body fat in animals remained normal, possibly due to preserved insulin receptor in the liver and insulin-induced activation of triglyceride production which maintained normal levels of body fat stores, the effective functioning of adipose tissue and secretion of leptin by adipocytes during inhibition of glucose transformation into triglyceride in adipose tissue. Knockout of the Insr gene in muscles blocked glucose uptake by myocytes, but it did not induce hyperglycemia, probably due to the increase in glucose uptake by other organs, which retained the insulin receptor, and induced some increase in fat resources in adipose tissue. Similar results were obtained in mice with knockout the glucose transporter 4 GLUT4 in muscle and/or adipose tissue. Insulin microinjections in the brain, in the cerebral ventricle 4 (CVI) and mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) did not affect the insulin levels in the general circulation, but effectively activate lipogenesis and inhibited lipolysis in adipose tissue. They induced obesity, similar to conventional obesity when the insulin levels increased. These results may serve as an additional confirmation of the importance of the adipogenic insulin function in mechanisms of regulation of general metabolism.

Standardization of solvent fractionation technique for detection of adulteration by enriching animal body fat and vegetable oil in different fractions

The study was conducted for the development of protocol for the solvent fractionation of pure ghee (cow and buffalo), animal body fat (goat body fat) and vegetable oil (groundnut oil) using two different temperature-time combinations which can successively be used for enriching the first solid fraction with the animal body fat and the last liquid fraction with the vegetable oil (groundnut oil), while keeping most of the ghee concentrated into the middle fraction. The selected temperature-time combinations were 15°C for 15 minutes and 2°C for 2 hours respectively. The fractions obtained using selected temperature-time combination may further be used for the detection of adulteration of pure ghee with these cheaper fats and oils by conducting physcio-chemical analysis on the fractions.

An Optoelectromechanical Sensor for Detecting Adulteration in Anhydrous Milk Fat

This paper presents the theory, design, fabrication, and test results of a new system, which is used for the detection and measurement of adulteration of clarified butterfat, a classification of anhydrous milk fat. Detection of adulteration by 20% or more of animal body's fat in clarified butter is very easily and economically, done. The Time period of simple harmonic motion of uniform density metallic rod, oscillating in medium from a fixed point under controlled temperature conditions, is effected by the characteristics of the medium. Experimentally, it has been verified that the relationship between time periods of oscillation of rod pendulum in medium is appreciably proportional to adulterant in the sample.

Detection of tallow adulteration in cow ghee by derivative spectrophotometry.

Context:Ghee is a widely consumed dairy product in India and that prepared from cow milk is mentioned in ayurvedic texts as an ingredient of many formulations/additive as well. Detection of cow ghee adulteration with vegetable oils/fats and animal body fats is a key concern. Indicated values for commonly used parameters to differentiate pure and adulterated ghee materials are many a times overlapping. Among reported techniques, ultraviolet fluorescence and paper chromatography technique are not that much sensitive while other methods require sophisticated instrumental facilities (such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry) and costly analytical processes.Aims:The present paper deals with a promising spectroscopic method to determine the tallow adulteration in cow ghee.Materials and Methods:Ghee and tallow (taken in chloroform) as such and mixed in different proportions were scanned by spectrophotometer and their second order spectra were analyzed.Results:The value of the ratio of the absorbance of peaks at about 238 nm and 297 nm steadily decreases with the increasing proportion of tallow. This decrease shows consistent linearity suggesting its applicability for quantitative estimation of tallow in cow ghee.Conclusion:The developed derivative spectroscopic method is a rapid, sensitive, cost-effective method for detection of tallow adulteration in cow ghee.

The Effects Of Hypoxia Training On Muscle Muscle Oxygen Saturation

PURPOSE: Chronic hypoxia can increase muscle weight and reduce body fat in animals. Whether altitude exposure can cause the same effect in humans is currently unknown. METHODS: In this study, we determined the effect of 3-week altitude hypoxia on body composition. With constant training volume of 12.3 km/day, youth swimmers (N=10, 14.8±0.5 years) moved from sea-level to altitude (2300 meters). Their body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after translocation, along with 8 control subjects resided in sea-level. Total hemoglobin concentration (THC) was traced by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in triceps and quadriceps muscles under glucose-ingested and insulin secreted conditions during hypoxia exposure (16% O2) after swimming training. RESULTS: We found all subjects trained at altitude had unequivocally decreased fat mass (-1.5±0.3 kg) with symmetrical increased lean mass (+0.6±0.2 kg), while no change on both variables was found in the control group. Arterial oxygen saturation was significantly decreased with plasma lactate increase during hypoxia recovery mimicking 2300 M in altitude (∼93% versus ∼97%). Intriguingly, hypoxia resulted in elevated muscle THC and sympathetic nervous activity occurred in parallel with greater percent oxygen saturation in both muscle groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that hyperoxia can improve insulin sensitivity for glucose disposal during post-exercise recovery. This effect appears to be due to a reduced cortisol response during recovery, and was not associated with autonomic nervous activity.

Analysis of Lard's Aroma by an Electronic Nose for Rapid Halal Authentication

AbstractAn electronic nose was successfully used to detect and discriminate lard from other types of animal body fats and samples containing lard. The results are presented in the form of VaporPrint™, the image of the polar plot of the odor amplitudes from the surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector frequency. In the VaporPrint™, the radial angles representing the sensor provides individual fingerprints of the aroma of different animal body fats. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to interpret the data and it provided a good grouping of samples, with 61% of the variation accounted for by PC 1 and 29% accounted for by PC 2. All of the lard‐containing samples formed a separate group from the samples that were free from lard. This method can be developed into a rapid method for detecting the presence of lard in food samples for Halal authentication.

Effect of clenbuterol on apoptosis, adipogenesis, and lipolysis in adipocytes

Clenbuterol, a beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) selective agonist, has been shown to decrease body fat in animals and can induce apoptosis in adipose tissue in mice. We hypothesized that direct actions of a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist on adipocytes could trigger the observed apoptotic effect. The hypothesis was inspected by investigating the direct effect of clenbuterol on apoptosis, adipogenesis, and lipolysis in vitro using the 3T3-L1 cell line and rat primary adipocytes. Cells were treated with 10(-9) to 10(-5) M clenbuterol depending on the experiments. There was no apoptotic effect of clenbuterol both in 3T3-L1 cells and rat primary adipocytes. Adipogenesis monitored by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay was modestly decreased by clenbuterol treatment (p < 0.05). In fully differentiated primary adipocytes, clenbuterol increased basal lipolysis compared with the control (p < 0.01). In summary, direct stimulation of beta(2)-AR by clenbuterol does not cause apoptosis in adipocytes, despite a direct lipolytic stimulation and attenuation of adipogenesis.

Effect Of Leucine And Exercise On Fat And Metabolism Of Glucose In Previously Obese Rats

Several studies show evidence that supplementation with leucine favors reducing body fat in animals submitted to various experimental conditions, including food restriction and high fat diet. However, the effect of supplementation with leucine associated with exercise in animals submitted to high-fat diet remains poorly informed, as well, the effects of these interventions on reversion of the deleterious effects on metabolism of glucose caused by the high fat diet. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of supplementation with leucine associated with exercise in body fat and in the metabolism of glucose in rats previously submitted to high-fat diet. METHODS: Initially thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high-fat diet for 15 weeks. Subsequently, they were distributed into control group (CG) (n = 7), leucine group (LG) (n = 8), exercise group (EG) (n = 8) and group exercise + leucine (GEL) (n = GEL 7). CG and EG were fed with AIN-93M diet, and LG and GEL were supplemented with 5% of leucine. EG and GEL were exposed to 60 minutes per day of swimming exercise for 6 weeks. After 21 weeks the animals were sacrificed and samples for analysis were collected. Two-way ANOVA was performed for statistical analysis with p<0.05. RESULTS: When compared the factors exercised vs. sedentary and leucine vs. control, there was a significant difference in the sum of deposits of visceral fat (p<0.022 and p<0.034, respectively). The same results were observed between LG vs. CG (6.01 ± 1.18 vs. 7.79 ± 2.18 p<0.026) and GEL vs. LG (6.14 ± 0.78 vs. 7.79 ± 2.18, p<0.019). Significant differences were found among the factors exercised vs. sedentary (p<0.011) and leucine vs. control (p<0.047) for the morphometry of adipose tissue. The same was observed between the CG vs. LG (288.05 ± 53.54 vs. 380.26 ± 120.02, p<0.029) and GEL vs. LG (269.49 ± 36.70 vs. 380.26 ± 120.02, p<0.010). On the other hand there was no significant difference in insulin and HOMA index. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that supplementation with leucine does not reduce body fat nor the volume of adipocytes. Moreover, the effects of the association between leucine and exercise are attributed primarily to the exercise. Supported by FAPESP, 07/59291-3 and 07/51964-9.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation Does Not Reduce Visceral Adipose Tissue in Middle-Aged Men Engaged in a Resistance-Training Program

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation has shown convincing effects at reducing body fat in animals; yet human study results have been somewhat inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to determine whether four weeks of CLA supplementation, the approximate length of a commercial package, can result in a positive change in visceral adipose tissue in resistance-trained middle-aged men. Thirty overweight and moderately obese, but otherwise healthy male subjects (aged 35 to 55 years) currently involved in resistance training, were randomly assigned into CLA and placebo groups in a double-blind, placebo controlled approach. The study lasted for 12 weeks and consisted of three four-week periods. During the first four weeks (run-in period) each subject received placebo (4 g safflower oil). Throughout the next four weeks (supplementation period), the placebo group continued receiving placebo, while the CLA group received 3.2 g/d of CLA. During the final four weeks (run-out period) all subjects received the placebo. Computed tomography (CT) scans were used to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT) at weeks 4, 8 and 12. No significant reduction in VAT cross-sectional area was determined in the CLA group during the study. On the contrary, a significant reduction in cross-sectional area of VAT of 23.12 cm2 during the supplementation period was measured in the placebo group, which was abated during the run-out period. Our results suggest that CLA supplementation of 3.2 g/d for four weeks does not promote decreases in VAT in middle-aged men currently participating in a resistance-training program.