Conjugated Linoleic Acid

CLAs are fatty acids that acts on a system known as PPAR to induce fat loss. At least, that is what the theory says. CLA too weakly affects PPAR receptors to really induce fat loss in an appreciable amount. TTA appears more promising.

Quick Answer

What it is

CLAs are fatty acids that acts on a system known as PPAR to induce fat loss. At least, that is what the theory says.

Key findings

  • Grade D: Adiponectin (Overweight)
  • Grade D: Blood glucose (Type 2 Diabetes)
  • Grade D: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (Immune Health)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Quick Facts: Conjugated Linoleic Acid

  • Best Evidence:Grade D
  • Conditions Studied:19
  • Research Outcomes:189
  • Key Effect:Metabolic Health
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C0
D21
19 conditions Β· 189 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Sort:
|
D
Adiponectin
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Metabolic Rate
2 studies
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
DNA Damage
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
1 study
↑Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
DNA Damage
↑Worsens
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
D
Blood glucose
No effect
2 studies
none
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
none
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Crohn's Disease Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 2
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
D
Appetite
No effect
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Triglycerides
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Metabolic Rate
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
3 studies
↑Worsens
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
DNA Damage
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study
↑Improves
D
Appetite
No effect
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Metabolic Rate
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Bone Mineral Density
1 study
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
1 study
↑Improves
D
Appetite
No effect
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Insulin
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Metabolic Rate
1 study
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Inflammation
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
↓Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Metabolic Rate
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Appetite
↑Worsens
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
D
Blood glucose
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
Blood glucose
No effect
1 study
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
Kidney Function
No effect
1 study
none
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
D
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
No effect
none
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Blood glucose
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
D
Blood glucose
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
none
?
Crohn's Disease Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 2
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
1 study
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
D
Kidney Function
No effect
1 study
none
?
Liver Enzymes
↑Worsens
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
none
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↑Worsens
?
Asthma Symptoms
↓Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

DMetabolic Health
1
AdiponectinAppetite↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
DOverweight
1
Adiponectin↓WeightImproves↓Body FatImproves
DObesity
1
Adiponectin↓WeightImproves↓Body FatImproves
DWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
Appetite↓Body FatImproves↓WeightImproves
DHigh Cholesterol
1
Adiponectin↓WeightImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves
DBody Composition
1
Adiponectin↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves
DType 2 Diabetes
1
Blood glucose↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves↑Glycemic ControlImproves
DImmune Health
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)↓TNF-AlphaImproves↓Cell Adhesion FactorsImproves
DGeneral Athletic Performance
1
Blood glucose↓Body FatImproves↓WeightImproves
DMenopause
1
Blood glucose↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves
DGeneral Liver Health
1
Kidney Function↑Liver EnzymesWorsens
DCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)
1
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves↓WeightImproves
DAerobic Exercise Performance
1
Blood glucose↓Body FatImproves
DBone Health
1
Blood glucose↓Body FatImproves↑InsulinWorsens
DCrohn's Disease
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)↓Crohn's Disease SymptomsImproves↑Interleukin 2Improves
DKidney Health
1
Kidney Function↑Liver EnzymesWorsens
DMetabolic Syndrome
1
Body Fat↑Glycemic ControlImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
DMuscle Size & Strength
1
Body Fat↑Muscle MassImproves↑WeightWorsens

Related Supplements

Whey Protein

17 shared conditions Β· 197 outcomes

Whey protein is one of the two high-quality proteins derived from cow’s milk (casein being the other). Its high digestibility, quick absorption, and well-researched benefits for muscle gain and cardiometabolic health make it a popular protein supplement among athletes and older adults.

Fish Oil

17 shared conditions Β· 448 outcomes

Fish oil is a mix of mostly EPA and DHA derived from fatty fish. It reduces triglycerides, but does not seem to affect the rate of cardiovascular events. It appears to reduce the symptoms of depression and improve some painful, inflammatory conditions.

L-Carnitine

17 shared conditions Β· 558 outcomes

L-carnitine can relieve leg pain in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and treat some aspects of metabolic syndrome. Although it’s often also used for fat loss, its effectiveness for that is questionable.

Vitamin D

16 shared conditions Β· 308 outcomes

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that our skin synthesizes when exposed to the sun. It benefits us in many ways, from bone health to mood.

Creatine

16 shared conditions Β· 433 outcomes

Creatine is among the most well-studied and effective supplements for improving exercise performance. It does this mainly by increasing energy availability during high-intensity activity. Creatine may also provide cognitive and mental health benefits in some contexts.

Spirulina

15 shared conditions Β· 304 outcomes

Spirulina, commonly known as β€œblue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.

Curcumin

15 shared conditions Β· 502 outcomes

Curcumin is the primary bioactive substance in turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can alleviate symptoms of depression as well as improve pain and function in people with osteoarthritis.

Saffron

14 shared conditions Β· 390 outcomes

Saffron is a spice with antioxidant properties derived from the flowering plant Crocus sativus. When used as a supplement, saffron seems to be effective at reducing symptoms of depression and possibly anxiety.