CLA Supplements

If scientists ever invent a pill that can help women get slimmer without hurting, we’re ready to buy a lifetime supply. That’s why we were enthused when a well-known supplement got real results in a recent study out of Norway. Over-weight people who took 3.5 grams of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) every day for 2 years lost up to 4 pounds the first year (placebo users didn’t lose any weight) and never regained it during the second year. Changes in the testers’ bodies were especially intriguing. While eating whatever they wanted and not exercising regularly, they lost 7 to 9 percent of their body fat but saw their lean body mass—muscle, that is—rise 1 to 2 percent. In other words, they got slimmer and stronger.

CLA is a fatty acid found in beef and dairy products, and sold in capsule form. Fifteen years ago, scientists thought it might be a do-it-all drug, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and fighting diabetes and cancer. The research eventually fizzled—but now CLA may be ready for a comeback. “These impressive findings will put CLA back on the map,” says Peter J.H. Jones, PhD, professor of nutrition at McGill University in Montreal, who was not involved in the research.

The testers managed to avoid regaining weight, probably because they added muscle, says study author Jean-Michel Gaullier, PhD, an investigator at Scandinavian Clinical Research. Most people who lose weight end up losing muscle; that slows their metabolism and makes it hard to keep the weight off.

Safety, however, is a question mark. CLA is a trans fat, the kind that’s likely to hike your bad cholesterol (LDL). Other studies have hinted that CLA might have that effect. In this study, LDL went up at first but then returned to normal. Gaullier says reducing body fat may counteract any added risk.

CLA appears to work best for people who are overweight but not obese. Gaullier recommends trying it if you’re overweight—but only while following a regimen that includes healthy eating and exercise. Supplements are available at most pharmacies.

— Eric Steinmehl is Associate Living Editor at Health.