Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) for Fat Loss and Increased Muscle
There has been a lot of hype in the news and on the Internet about a new supplement that is said to not only reduce fat in your body, but also increase muscle. This supposed miracle drug is called conjugated linoleic acid and can be found at many supplement stores and pharmacies.
It seems as though CLA, as conjugated linoleic acid is more commonly called, would be the perfect answer for anyone who is trying to lose some weight. Why would anyone want to exercise when they could simply take a pill every day? Here we will review some of the facts and studies on CLA and in the end you can determine if it is right for you.
In December of 2000 there was a study published in the Journal of Nutrition that stated that the supplement CLA had effectively caused a reduction in fat and preservation of muscle. This study was done on various people and in the end those using CLA on a daily basis had lost six more pounds, on average, than those on a placebo. They were given 3.4 grams of CLA per day. The one catch to this study is that those participating were also required to diet and exercise. This means that even those not on CLA lost weight; it was just those who were on it lost more.
There have been several other studies done on CLA using mice who have shown drastic reduction in weight, but for those others that have been done on humans, no other significant change could be determined. In fact, in some cases those taking CLA gained weight. Now, keep in mind, in these studies the participants were not exercising or dieting. The drug also shows no sign on change in body composition or muscle.
What does these all mean? Basically CLA will not eliminate or reduce fat cells in your body; it simply limits them from growing. This means that for those of you with thyroid problems who already doing everything right, diet and exercise, this drug can work. Those of you with these types of conditions are gaining weight no matter what they do. The fat cells in your body simply continue to grow. With CLA it can slow that process down and hopefully the weight will be easier to keep up with. The studies have also shown that, when combined with diet and exercise, CLA can potentially increase your metabolic rate, decrease your abdominal fat and enhance your muscle growth. The key is to realize that you can’t just pop a pill and be suddenly skinny and healthy.
There are some potential side effects of CLA that have shown up in some cases. One of these affects is increasing the fat in your liver. While it can limit other fat, it has been shown in some studies of mice that the fat cells in the liver were actually growing. This problem can actually be a huge factor in getting diabetes and several other problems.
There are many studies that are still taking place on this subject and I would strongly urge you to check into these studies if you are interested in CLA. I would also strongly suggest that you talk to your physician before adding CLA to your current supplement platter. There may be new and better studies coming out as time goes on, but as of today, there is no miracle pill to make you thin. It really does seem like the best way to lose those pesky pounds are to eat right and exercise.
