Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Effects On The Body

Conjugated linoleic acid is a slightly modified essential fatty acid. This characteristic offers a series of healthy effects for the organism, especially in the regulation of appetite.

Despite this, it is being granted many properties that are not fully proven, so a proper evaluation of its safety towards consumers is necessary. Otherwise, unwanted effects could appear over time.

Healthy Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid

The interest aroused by conjugated linoleic acid in recent years is due to its beneficial properties in the cardiovascular field, as well as its possible anticancer effect.

Other favorable properties that have also been attributed to this compound are the following:

• Modulation of the immune system.
• Antidiabetic action.
• Improves bone mineralization.
• Body fat reducer.

Let’s take a closer look at the effects of conjugated linolenic acid:

Lipid-lowering and anti-teratogenic effect

The antiteratogenic effect, that is, avoiding affectations to the fetus in pregnant women, seems to be due to its hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic action, according to an article published in the journal “Nutrients”.

Some authors have hypothesized that the effects of conjugated linoleic acid on lipid metabolism could be mediated by the activation of transcription factors.

Anti-diabetic effect

Regarding the effect on diabetic disease, it has been proven in various animal studies that conjugated linoleic acid exerts an activity similar to certain drugs that act against this pathology.

Clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetes given conjugated linoleic acid have shown that it causes a significant decrease in fasting glucose, leptin, body mass index, and weight.

Read also: Remedies for type 2 diabetes: natural options

Antiadipogenic effect

Currently, there are numerous studies in experimental animals and in humans in which conjugated linoleic acid has been shown to reduce body fat. An example of this is an article published in the magazine “Nutrients”.

This weight reduction opens the possibility of commercial exploitation of this fatty acid as a useful product in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

The action of conjugated linoleic acid on the amount of body fat seems to be explained by a modification of the energy balance. It is possible that this acid reduces food intake, increases energy expenditure and can even produce both phenomena at the same time.

Boost the immune system

This is one of the most currently discovered effects, so there are no studies to back it up yet. It has been seen that this substance is capable of increasing certain immunoglobulins, which are cells that recognize foreign substances or antigens.

In this way, these results have allowed us to glimpse the usefulness of this fatty acid in the prevention and treatment of some food allergies.

Anti-cancer effect

This property is one of the best studied. There are not only experimental studies, but also in humans, as is the case with the antiadipogenic effect.

The results obtained in relation to the prevention of breast cancer are superior when comparing conjugated linoleic acid with other similar compounds, according to a study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The antioxidant effect, the increase in the immune response, the inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis, together with the increase in apoptosis (cell death), could be the mechanisms of the antitumor effect.

Properties on bone mineralization

Finally, there are also studies that show the possible usefulness of this substance in sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Likewise, it also exerts its function on the articular cartilage.

If the studies in humans confirm the preliminary results obtained in animals, there would be a new usefulness of conjugated linoleic acid. More research is still required to confirm this effect.

Linoleic acid, a promising substance

Conjugated linoleic acid is a substance that offers a large number of benefits to the body. However, many of its properties are still being studied.

It is important to remember that conjugated linoleic acid should not be used as a substitute for any treatment established by the doctor. Before taking this substance, discuss it with your pharmacist or doctor, as misuse can have serious consequences.