Tonalin® CLA May Deter Winter Weight Creep

MADISON, Wis.—Conjugated linoleic acid (as Tonalin® CLA, from Cognis Nutrition & Health) derived from natural safflower oil could have long-term health benefits by preventing weight and fat gain commonly experienced by adults during the holiday season, and in the normal aging process.

In the double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the Journal of Obesity (DOI:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803437), 40 healthy, overweight men and women took 4 g/d of Tonalin CLA or placebo from August 2004 to March 2005. Participants taking Tonalin CLA safely reduced their body fat mass by 2.2 pounds and their body weight by 1.3 pounds. In comparison, those in the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds of body fat mass and 2.4 pounds of body weight during the winter months. Results corroborate and expand upon earlier findings by Jean-Michael Gaullier, Ph.D., revealing CLA reduces body fat mass in overweight but otherwise healthy adults by as much as 9 percent.