CLA Affects Weight Management, Immune Function

CLA Affects Weight Management, Immune Function

GREENSBORO, N.C. & BLACKSBURG, Va.Twostudies published in the October Journal of Nutrition (www.nutrition.org)supported the benefits of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in human health. Thefirst study, out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, showed CLAsmechanism of action for weight management (133, 10:3041-6, 2003), while thesecond, out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, showed CLAmay help fight viral infection through immunoregulatory properties (133,10:3204-14, 2003).

The North Carolina researchers conducted in vitro research todetermine the isomer-specific mechanisms by which CLA reduces body fat andinsulin sensitivity. They noted previous in vivo and in vitro research hasattributed CLAs effects to the t10,c12 isomer, although human studies haveshown conflicting results with mixed isomers. However, their in vitro researchshowed t10,c12 CLA prevented triglyceride accumulation, while c9,t11 CLAincreased triglycerides. The researchers concluded CLAs anti-adipogenicactions are due, at least partially, to its regulation of glucose and fatty aciduptake and metabolism.

The Virginia researchers conducted animal research todetermine CLAs effects on viral infection. They fed 32 pigs a control diet ofsoybean oil or a treatment diet of CLA for 42 days, after which time half of thepigs in each group were given a viral challenge (as type-2 porcine circovirus). Researchers noted the viral infection depleted B cells in pigsfed the control diet, while those on the treatment diet exhibited an increasedproliferation of CD8 T cells and suppressed interferon-gamma production in CD4 Tcells specific to the circovirus. In addition, pigs in the control group tendedto have more severe pneumonia and retarded growth. This study was sponsored byLipid Nutrition, a division of Loders Croklaan, Channahon, Ill., manufacturersof Clarinol CLA.