CLA Side Effects?

[fredeas]

Doc,
I've taken CLA in the past approx. 6 grams a day I weigh around 200 pounds. I see where you recommend a guy my size taking 12 g daily. Does this not cause health side effects? I remember seeing a study noting cardiac impairments due to high amounts of CLA.

[dinoiii]

Hmmmm, I am not aware of any such study - would you mind posting it?

I am aware of a study showing a PROTECTIVE effect toward cardiac myopathic hypertrophy.

I would also think potential body recomp effects would favorably affect blood pressure and subsequent decrease effect on the above. It could actually be rationale for the effect as well, though I do not recall seeing the hypothesis explained this way.

Alternatively, there was some concern for hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) though I would contest that this would actually not yield the effects seen body composition wise by studies done with larger amounts. Also, there was no glycemic patch clamps done so this is highly suspect until further data is available.

Nonetheless, I would be very greatful if you could find the study you speak of.


D_

[fredeas]

Overweight volunteers who took 4.5 grams of CLA per day for one year had an increase in their blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a risk factor for heart disease.2 In a double-blind study of human volunteers, supplementation with 4.2 grams per day of a mixture of cis-9,trans-11 CLA and trans-10,cis-12 CLA for three months increased the concentration of C-reactive protein, another risk factor for heart disease.3 In a study of healthy volunteers, supplementing with 4.5 grams of CLA per day for 12 weeks caused an impairment of blood vessel function (endothelial dysfunction), which is believed to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease.4 Taken together, these findings suggest that long-term use of CLA could increase the risk of developing heart disease.

Cite: 2. Gaullier JM, Halse J, Hoye K, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for 1 y reduces body fat mass in healthy overweight humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:1118–25.

3. Smedman A, Basu S, Jovinge S, Fredrikson GN, Vessby B. Conjugated linoleic acid increased C-reactive protein in human subjects. Br J Nutr 2005;94:791–5.

4. Taylor JS, Williams SR, Rhys R, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid impairs endothelial function. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2006;26:307–12.

[dinoiii]

Of course, the one study you list re: decreasing weight is essentially a good thing. But you shouldn't post a little piece of text out of context.

For the sake of discussion on Lp(a) and CRP:

Supplementation with Conjugated Linoleic Acid for 24 Months Is Well Tolerated by and Reduces Body Fat Mass in Healthy, Overweight Humans -- Gaullier et al. 135 (4): 778 -- Journal of Nutrition

Everyone on this board likely has an elevated CRP level and I take that number at less than face value due to the non-selective offering it harbors.

The numbers are a bit more alarming when speaking of Lp(a) to me and I think your point is certainly valid, however, when reading the study in full - the rationale behind this increase is unclear and said to be possibly a result of the loss of body fat mass (BFM).

Again, I must point to decreased cardiac myocyte size (reduced hypertrophy) and suggest that that alone is stronger data in all the preliminary offer we have.

One must also note an elevated HbA1c - BUT again, there is a tie-in here with decreased cholesterol and elevation in glycemia. The same thing happens with niacin and statin drugs when looking to reduce serum cholesterol.

But, I am in whole-hearted agreement that MUCH more study needs to be had, but as well-studied as it is, the "sides" have been few and far between and when you couple this with the heightened effect on body composition, you can breathe a bit easier considering that this too would be a bigger predictor of long-term morbidity/mortality when looking at cardiovascular disease.


Good find though.


D_

[scottie]

Would CLA being a trans fat have any negative conotation, Dr?

[rippedtohell]

side effects include less cash in the wallet

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by scottie

Would CLA being a trans fat have any negative conotation, Dr?

It doesn't appear so...its a mixed trans, cis fat actually - not your prototype.

Originally Posted by rippedtohell

side effects include less cash in the wallet

I don't deny this. Many people use it incorrectly and their diet is less than appropriate, but still this is probably the 2nd best studied sport (ie. - body composition) supplement after creatine and its the people using PHs calling it "unsafe" and those using things like resveratrol calling it "money-draining" - there is a significant oxymoron there.


D_

[fredeas]

Yeah, no kidding as far as that goes. I've used it on an off for two years and have seen little from it. However, I was dosing from 3 to at max 5 grams a day of CLA, which is what the supplement company's recommend. However, according to your article, I'd need around 10-12 grams a day.I just purchased enough for about a months worth to try your dosing recommendations. I'll let you know how it works. Thanks.

[dinoiii]

I applaud your drive for objective data. I do remind that I usually suggest a few things to go along with gram tally while you do experiment though:

[1] Allow for a minimum of 6-8 weeks of experimentation to allow for a significant opportunity for true body composition change.

[2] I only encourage the Tonalin brand (what has been supported by studies, though I would be ok if you used the Clarinol brand as we have had decent success with it) and hope you have purchased that for this experiment.

[3] Use of CLA should keep in mind the caloric exchange ratio. In other words, CLA provides 9 calories per gram whereas protein and carbs provide 4. If you are exchanging either of the latter two...it would be a replacement of 2 grams of CHOs or Protein for 1 gram of CLA equating to the same total calorie totals.


Good Luck.

D_

[LAGear]

This is from an article in the LA Times yesterday:

Here's what's in those weight-loss supplements - Los Angeles Times

Conjugated linoleic acid

Frequently included in products that promise to help dieters transform fat
into lean muscle mass, CLA is a polyunsaturated fat found naturally in
milk and meat and derived from the oil of sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds. One product that touts its
power -- Phosphacore -- says that Carthamus tinctorius "may work to safely
break up and flush away unhealthy adipose (fat) cells."

There's no good evidence that that's so in humans.

Sometimes recommended to patients with high overall cholesterol levels,
CLA also appears to lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. And while patients
with diabetes were once thought to benefit from taking CLA supplements,
further studies have not borne that out. In fact, there is some evidence
that for obese people, taking in too much CLA can contribute to a
prediabetic state. One study found that CLA can prevent some human cells
from taking up glucose and fatty acids. That could increase blood sugar
and lipids in the blood and raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease.