CLA Lowers Body Fat in Children

MADISON, Wis.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) decreased body fatness in 6 to 10-year-old children who were overweight or obese; however, it didnt improve plasma lipids or glucose, but it did decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL) more than in the placebo group, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010; DOI:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28404). Researchers conducted a 7± 0.5-month randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of CLA in 62 prepubertal children aged 6 to 10 years old who were overweight or obese but otherwise healthy. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of 80 percent CLA (as CLARINOL® CLA, from Lipid Nutrition) or placebo in chocolate milk.

A total of 53 subjects completed the trial.CLA attenuated the increase in body mass index (BMI) compared with placebo (P=0.05). The percentage change in body fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was smaller (P=0.001) in the CLA group than in the placebo group. The change in abdominal body fat as a percentage of total body weight was smaller (P=0.02) in the CLA group than in the placebo group. There were no significant changes in plasma glucose, insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol between groups. Plasma HDL cholesterol decreased significantly more (P=0.05) in the CLA group than in the placebo group. Bone mineral accretion was lower (P=0.04) in the CLA group than in the placebo group. Reported gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ significantly between groups.

Childhood obesity is a big problem associated with a large array of health problems later in life said Alfred Haandrikman, R&D director for Lipid Nutrition This first study into the application of CLA as food ingredients for children shows promising effect to reduce body fat and increase lean body mass, and therefore has an enormous promise in improving the health of children.