ABOUT CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID - CLA

Conjugated linoleic acid is a group of variants of fatty acids. They have the empirical formula C18H32O2. It has two double bonds The double bonds are allways placed within a group of 4 carbon atoms, but at different places in the carbon atom chain in the different variants. The chain bends to opposite sides at each end of one doubl bonds, so-called trans-configuration. The chain bends to the same side at each end of the other double bond, so-called cis-configuration. This is unusual for natural unsaturated fatty acids, which usually have only cis-configurations.

Acids having cis-configuration are called cis-fatty acids, and those having trans-configuration are called trans-fatty-acids. CLA is thus a mixed cis-trans-fatty acid. Must trans-fatty acids are produced by industrial processing of vegetable oils and are harmeful to the body. CLA is an exception to this rule, and is very beneficial in small quantities.

CLA is found in meat and milk from mammals, like bovine meat and in diary product made form milk. It is actually produced by bacteria living in the stomach of these mammals.

CLA seem to work as an anti-oxydant for some oxidative processes and seems to increase other oxidative processes. Both these effects are the base of the beneficial effects and some harmful effects if it is taken in too high quantities.

CLA has general anti-aging properties and help tissues in recovering form degeneration and aging changes. It is especially good as a anti-aging and anti-generative agent for the skin.

It helps to prevent cancer, and especially skin and colon cancer. It helps to prevent cardiac and circulatory diseases. Especially it is good to hinder heart infarction. These effects are probably due to the more general tissue-protecting and tissue-healung properties.

CLA also seems to help in weight reduction programs and to help maintain a healthy weight. Especially it seems good at taking away fat on and in the stomach region.

A commonly reccomended dose is 4-5 g CLA daily, and much more than this should not be consumed.

Even though CLA in moderate doses have many positive health effetc, one should be careful not to increase the dosis above the reccomended. One reason for this is that CLA is partly a trans-fatty-acid. The body is not able to utilize these types of fatty acids in the same way as cis-acids and they tend to harm the body in many ways when consumed in high amounts. Therefore CLA cannot be used as a energy source like other natural fatty acids that has the cis-configuration. It is also probable that CLA has the same side effects as other trans-acids i higher doses. By higher doese the side effects will probably be greater that the good effects. A basic effect of CLA is to induce inflammation responces in the body. This effect may be good when very moderate. When it gets greater by higher doses it can hurt the tissues in the body, for example the tissues in the blood vessels.

Taken in too high quantities CLA may cause insensitivity to insuline and may increase the tendency for gallstone formation. In too high quantities the good effects may disappear and the opposite effects may occur.



WHAT ARE FATTY ACIDS, WHAT TYPES OF FATTY ACIDS EXIST

A fatty acid is a part of the fat molecules. A fat molecule consist of a glucose rest and three fatty acids linked to this. The fat molecules are broken down to glucose and the fatty acids in the digestion.

A fatty acid consists of a long carbon atom chain, hydrogen atoms bounded to the carbon atoms and a hydroxyl group at one end of the chain. The carbon atoms also have hydrogen atoms bonded to them. A molecule of a fatty acid could be something like this:

ch2-ch2-c=ch-ch=ch-ch2-ch=ch-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch=ch-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch2-ch=ch-ch2-ch2-ch2-cooh

The bonds between the carbon atoms can be simple and double. A carbon atom with only simple bonds to other carbon atoms have two hydogen atoms attached. If the carbon atom has a double bond, there will be only one hydrogen atom. The exeption is the carbon atom at the end that have one extra hydogen atom attached.

If there are only simple bounds, the fatty acid is called saturated. This is because such fatty acids has the maximum amount of hydrogen atoms attached to themselves.

If there are double bonds between one or more carbon atoms, the fatty acid is called unsaturated.

If there is only one double bond, the acid is called mono-unsaturated. With more double bonds, the acid is a called poly-unsaturated fatty acid.

Poly-unsaturated fatty acids are cathegorized according to the placement of the first double bond. They are called omega-2, omega-3, 4,5,6,7,8,9,10, etc. The figures denote the number of carbon atom from and including the carbon atom in the carboxyl group up to the carbon atom that the first double bond goes out from.

The example showed above is of a omega-5 poly-unsaturated fatty acid.

The body can make many fatty acids itself, but some have to be supplied by the diet.

These are called essential fatty acids. Many omega-3-acids and omega-6-acids have to be supplied.

Unsaturated fatty acids prevent disease in the heart and circulation system in moderate amounts. What is needed to get a god prevention is a balanced blending of omega-3-acida, omega-6-acids, mono-unsaterated acids and other.

EPA and DPA are two fatty acids found in fish oil that are espesially valuable to decrease the chance of getting circulatory and heart disease.

Omega-3-oils also prevent and alleviate inflammatory diseases.


These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.