CLA May Reduce Body Fat Without Liver Injury

FUKUOKA, Japan--Results from a study published in the January issue of Nutrition (19, 1:30-5, 2003) (www.elsevier.com/locate/nut) indicate that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), particularly when taken with a low-fat diet, may reduce body fat without hepatic injury.

Led by Masao Yamasaki, Ph.D., the researchers from Kyushu University examined the effect of diets containing 4-percent, 7-percent and 10-percent fats with or without 1.5-percent CLA. Thirty rats were assigned to one of six groups, with five rats in each group; after a three-week feeding period, the animals were sacrificed and researchers examined adipose tissue and hepatic health.

Body weights of white adipose tissue were lower in CLA-fed rats, but the effect disappeared with increased dietary fat. Serum leptin levels were also lower in the CLA group, particularly in the low-fat group. Researchers noted that previous studies have shown hepatic injury with high levels of CLA; however, there was no liver enlargement observed in this study, nor was there apparent liver damage. They concluded that body fat reduction with CLA was most effective with the 4-percent fat level, though all fat levels were reduced, all without hepatic injury.

Rinoru Oil Mills Co. Ltd., a business group of Mitsubishi Corp. in Nagoya, Japan, provided support for the study.