CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)
Unproven· human dataAlso known as: Conjugated linoleic acid
A body-composition supplement whose human fat-loss results are tiny and inconsistent.
CLA is a group of fatty acids that produced striking fat-loss effects in some animal studies, which drove its popularity as a body-composition supplement.
In humans, the results have been far less impressive — any fat-loss effect is tiny, inconsistent and not clinically meaningful, and gastrointestinal side effects are common. It is a clear example of animal data failing to translate; an energy deficit does the real work.
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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale, MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.
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