Conjugated linoleic acid: use and side effects. Conjugated linoleic acid: reviews

Recently, you can hear a lot of information about the benefits of dietary supplements, a component of which is conjugated linoleic acid. What is linoleic, and even more so conjugated, few people know. Non-specialists in the field of chemistry and medicine are more or less clear only the word "acid". When buying products and preparations containing this ingredient, most of us are guided by the information in the instructions and hope for magical results. Let's try to figure out what can be expected from this product.

Linoleic acid

For a healthy life and the normal functioning of all human organs, the presence of essential fatty acids in the body, which includes linoleic, is absolutely necessary. It is a linear chain of carbon atoms, which are numbered for the convenience of biochemists. Between the 9th and 10th, and also between the 12th and 13th atoms, it has one bond of substituents. Unused carbon atoms separating them, prevent these bonds from influencing each other, which determines the properties of the substance. Conjugated linoleic acid can be obtained as an intermediate product in the conversion of simple linoleic acid to stearic acid . All three are important for human metabolism. Without fatty acids, in particular linoleic acid, metabolic processes are disturbed in the body, the cardiovascular system, blood circulation suffer, atherosclerosis develops and nutrition of all tissues worsens. A lot of linoleic acid goes to the structuring of cell membranes of the human body. Therefore, it is vital to eat foods containing it.

What is conjugated linoleic acid

In this isomer, substituent bonds change their place. One of them is located between the 6th and 7th carbons, and the other between the 8th and 9th. Such a close location allows them to influence each other, as well as the only free bond of carbon atoms standing between them. The second difference between the two related acids in the arrangement of substituent bonds relative to the plane of the chain. In simple linoleic, this is a cis form, that is, on one side, and in the conjugated form, a trans form may be present, that is, on different sides. Due to such seemingly insignificant differences, conjugated linoleic acid acquires new properties. In particular, it is capable of performing two functions - suppressing the activity of transporting fats from blood to cells, lipoprotein lipase, and at the same time enhancing the breakdown of body fat, while regular linoleic, on the contrary, contributes to the accumulation of fats. Another sensational difference is the fact that linoleic acid uniquely contributes to the susceptibility of cholesterol to oxidation reactions, and conjugated it stabilizes.

Discovery of American Scientists

Despite the latest technology, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was discovered relatively recently. In 1979-1980, a group of scientists from the American University of Texas conducted a series of studies on the effect of various products on the vital functions of the body. Michael Pariz, who was then an assistant, noted that fried meat in an unusual way prevents mutations in the DNA of muscle cells in animals. It was found that the substance found by him in meat has this property. Further studies revealed other useful properties of the new element, in particular the ability to suppress the development of cancerous tumors. This served as a powerful impetus to the enhanced study of biochemical processes of conjugated linoleic acid.

Beneficial features

At this stage of the research, it was revealed that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is capable of:

• accelerate the metabolism in the body;
• contribute to an increase in muscle mass;
• lower cholesterol;
• reduce the risk of diabetes by insulin resistance;
• increase immunity;
• beneficial effect on reducing cases of food allergies.
  

CLA preparations inhibit the process of accumulation of fat, especially in the area of ​​the peritoneum (visceral). This type of body fat that can trap the liver, heart, and blood vessels is very dangerous and often leads to heart attacks, strokes, thrombosis, and other troubles. CLA increases the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin, so fat, as well as glucose, more actively pass through membranes, not being put off "in reserve". As a result, the percentage of fat decreases, and muscle mass increases.

Laboratory research and experiments

Despite the fact that conjugated linoleic acid has many amazing properties, the opinions of doctors and researchers about it are mixed. This is due to the fact that at this stage of the use of the drug, most experiments were conducted on animals. So, in rats that were fed fried meat daily, the tumor formation process is significantly blocked. True, it has not yet been possible to find out at what stage it is happening - at the initial, progressive or final, when the cancer begins to metastasize. There is an assumption that the drug works on all three. In addition, in rats, mice, and chickens, CLA significantly enhances the immune system, and in young animals, in addition, promotes active growth. In another group of animals - rabbits and hamsters - CLA prevents the narrowing of arteries caused by atherosclerotic plaques. No similar experiments have been carried out in humans, so it is premature to draw definitive conclusions.

Weight loss experiments

One can come across allegations that conjugated linoleic acid helps to significantly lose weight. The reviews of people who have tried its effect on themselves are also ambiguous. Some were satisfied, others did not notice the effect. In 2000, Swedish scientists published the results of their experiments with a group of volunteers who lost weight with KLK. All of them consumed 3.4 g of conjugated acid for 64 days. Not a single participant lost weight. In the same year, other independent researchers published opposite results from experiments conducted with another group of obese people. According to these data, a decrease in body weight was observed precisely in those who took CLA preparations. Another experiment was conducted by scientists in Norway. They divided the participants in the experiment into four groups, in each of which daily intake of CLA was 1.7 g, 3.4 g, 5.1 and 6.8. Weight reduction occurred only in the last two groups who consumed high doses of the drug.

The experiences and conclusions of Michael Peyriz

How does conjugated linoleic acid act as a means for losing weight on people, not just animals? The studies were conducted on a large enough scale. Men and women of all ages from different ethnic groups participated. Michael Peyriz, the discoverer of this substance, involved in the experiment a group of full people (71 volunteers). All of them took 3.4 g of the drug daily for 2 months and followed a diet that excluded meals that contribute to weight gain. The control group lost weight only with a diet, without taking the drug. The project participants really lost weight, but at the end of the diet they started to gain it again, and those taking the drug only increased muscle mass, while the representatives of the control group again increased body fat growth. These data allowed the scientist to make a statement that CLA does not so much reduce the size of fat deposits, but prevents their further increase. The experiment showed that the drug is able to increase insulin secretion in patients with type II diabetes and reduce the quantitative indicators of glucose in the blood. Such results were observed in approximately two-thirds of experimental volunteers.

CLA Medications

Many are interested in the question of what conjugated linoleic acid is contained in which preparations. Here are some of the bioactive supplements available in pharmacies and sports stores with this ingredient:

1. "Linofit." The package holds 60 capsules, each with 800 mg of acid. Price on Russian markets from 1500 rubles. Along with CLA, iodine and vitamin B6 are present in capsules, which significantly increases the beneficial properties of this dietary supplement.
2. Reduxine Light. Packages of 30, 90, 120 and 180 capsules are produced, in each of which 500 mg of conjugated acid, as well as vitamin E. Price from 1000 to 2720 rubles (depending on the number of capsules).
3. "Chocolate of life." The package contains 10 packets of powder with CLA from which the drink is prepared. The price is from 300 rubles.

There are foreign analogues: Zerofat, CLA, CLAextrim and others. Estimated price from 15 dollars.

Natural springs

There are quite a few dietary supplements from various manufacturers, in which conjugated linoleic acid is the main component. Customer reviews differ in the same way as the results of research by scientists. There are many people who have noticed a positive effect. At the same time, there are many who did not observe weight reduction or it was very insignificant. In addition to dietary supplements, CLA is contained in a large category of natural products, so that they can be eaten daily without any restrictions. The figures in the table for milk, meat and eggs refer to animals raised on natural feed.

Contraindications

It was not noticed that the reasonable use of the above products caused negative reactions of the body (with the exception of individual immunity in individuals). When using drugs that contained conjugated linoleic acid, side effects, unfortunately, arose. So, some buyers who used dietary supplements with CLA, observed exacerbations of previously existing hemorrhoids, disruptions in the digestive tract, rash, nausea. During the experiment in Sweden, only 47 out of 60 people who participated in the experiment were able to complete the entire course. The rest were forced to abandon due to health problems.