CLA: A Good Trans Fatty Acid?

cookingdiet and heart disease
Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

CLA: A Good Trans Fatty Acid?

Unlike most of the trans fatty acids produced by the industrial hydrogenation of refined oils, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been a small part of the human diet for thousands of years. This is because it is found naturally in the meat and milk of ruminant animals (e.g. cattle, goats, elephants, antelope, deer, sheep, etc.). CLA has been shown to favorably affect body composition of animals (more lean and less fat) and also appears to provide some protection against atherosclerosis and cancer.
However, the amount of CLA available from food is much less than used in animal studies that have shown health benefits. In addition, the human body can convert other naturally occuring trans fatty acids into CLA.1The amount of CLA directly and indirectly obtained from natural sources would still result in considerably less CLA than has been shown to have beneficial effects in animal studies. A recent study in humans used at least three or four times more CLA than Americans are consuming for 13 weeks in subjects who had lost weight on a very low calorie diet. This study did find a modest increase in lean body mass in those receiving the CLA supplement compared to those receiving the placebo. However, overall body weight was not affected so the authors concluded that CLA ?did not result in improved body weight maintenance after weight loss.?2Bottom Line: There is some encouraging but preliminary research on possible health benefits from CLA but the amount found naturally in food is probably too small to have much benefit. Eating more CLA from red meat and dairy products would certainly promote heart disease, obesity and diabetes despite the small amount of potentially beneficial CLA in these foods. CLA is sold as ?Clarinol?. While the research on CLA supplements is somewhat encouraging so far there is insufficient data regarding the long term benefits and potential risks to recommend CLA supplements today.By James J. Kenney, PhD, RD, LD, FACN.1. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:504-102. Int J Obes 2003;27:840-7
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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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