SANDAO

      Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally-occurring polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is a group of isomers of linoleic acid, meaning that it is chemically identical but has the atoms arranged in a different patern than ordinary linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is one of the essential fatty acids. The human body is unable to manufacture Linoleic Acid or CLA, so it must be obtained from dietary sources. Foods highest in CLA include dairy products and meat from ruminant animals, such as beef, lamb, and veal.

      CLA has been the subject of a variety of research studies in the past several years and findings suggest that some of the benefits of CLA include the following:

• CLA promotes muscle growth while reducing body fat.
• CLA may be one of the most potent cancer-fighting substances in our diet. .
• CLA improves Immune response.
• CLA helps normalize impaired glucose tolerance in diabetics.
• CLA Increases the metabolic rate.
• CLA Decreases abdominal fat.
• CLA Lowers insulin resistance
• CLA Reduces food-induced allergic reactions.

CLA has been found to prevent human platelet aggregation, significant in light of the role 'sticky cells' play in strokes.

CLA has been shown to decrease body fat content by inhibiting fat storage and reducing the amount of fat deposited in the body. In one study, researchers found that pigs fed CLA showed a reduction in fat deposits of 31%, and an increase in lean tissue formation of 25% over an eight-week period.

      Using human subjects, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. An average reduction of six pounds of body fat was found in the group that took CLA, compared to a placebo group. The study found that approximately 3.4 grams of CLA per day is the level needed to obtain the beneficial effects of CLA on body fat.