WEIGHT LOSS and WELLNESS WITH VITALITY PLUS

Pills for Pounds

Allure May 2001

Pigs do it, mice do it, even rats and chicks do it and, apparently, humans do it, too. They all lose bodyfat when consuming a certain amount of conjugated linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in lamb, beef, and milk and sold in over-the-counter supplements. For 12 weeks, researchers in Norway gave various doses of CLA to 47 overweight men and women, while a control group took a placebo. (The company behind Tonalin, a CLA pill, funded the study.) Volunteers who took 3.4 grams or more per day lost an average of three pounds of body fat (compared with those who didnt take CLA, who gained about three pounds). The researchers, who reported their findings in The journal of nutrition, conclude that CLA did not lead to increased muscle mass, but may have caused more fat to be burned off for energy. According to Mike Steelman, former president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, there are no known long-term side effects associated with CLA. Supplements, which are sold in health stores, do seem to be the best way to get 3.4 grams on a daily basis. To take in this amount through food, researcher Ola Gudmundsen says, youd have to drink about 9 and a half quarts of low-fat milk (or 6 quarts of whole milk0, or eat about 4 pounds of beef or 50 slices of cheese.

Fat Slayer

Vegetarian Times May 2001
by Jordan Rothacker

According to the Centers for disease control and Prevention, nearly two-thirds of Americans  or 61 percent  are overweight, and more than a quarter of those people are classified as obese (defined as weighing 20 percent to 30 percent more than their ideal weight). Excess body fat puts and individual at risk for a variety of illnesses, from heart disease, respiratory problems and diabetes to osteoarthritis and a number of cancers. Now researchers are telling us that the solution to this growing health concern could be as simple as taking a couple of extra capsules along with our regular vitamin and supplement regimen.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is emerging as the latest weapon in the battle of the bulge. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition (December 2000) showed that CLA reduces fatty tissue while preserving lean muscle mass. Sixty overweight men and women were observed for 12 weeks while taking either CLA or a randomly designated placebo. A significant reduction in body fat mass was found in the groups taking at least 3.4 grams of CLA daily. Though researchers are not sure exactly how CLA boosts fat burning, the supplement has been deemed safe. The only side effects recorded were of a gastrointestinal nature.

These latest findings are a departure from the original research, which focused on the CLAs anticarcinogenic properties, especially tumor shrinkage and fighting breast cancer. Additionally, when CLA was first tested, it was derived from meat and dairy sources. Today, CLA is made from a process that uses 100 percent safflower oil.

The Fat Stopper

Natural Health May/June 2001
by Melissa Nachatelo

Found to be a cancer-fighter in the late 80s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a nonessential fatty acid found in meat and dairy foods. In 1996, it burst on the weight-loss scene after studies showed that it reduced body fat.

How CLA works: Though some supplement manufacturers claim otherwise, CLA doesnt actually burn fat, says Michael Pariza, Ph.D., director of the university of Wisconsins Food Research Institute. Pariza and other researchers theorize that CLA helps prevent fat cells from growing larger.

Last August, Pariza presented a six-month study on CLA to the American Chemical Society, a Washington, D.C.-based group. The studys researchers divided 71 subjects into two groups  one took 3 grams of CLA daily, the other took a placebo  and instructed both groups to reduce their caloric intake. All subjects were asked to exercise moderately. After the six-month diet ended, both groups had lost weight. But though the subjects regained it (a standard aftermath of most diets), the CLA group fared better. Instead of regaining pounds at a ration of 75 percent fat to 25 percent lean muscle, like the placebo group, they regained weight in a 50-50 ratio.

Another small double-blind, placebo-controlled study published last December in the Journal of Nutrition found that overweight and obese men and women taking3.4 to 6.8 grams of CLA daily (without changing their diet or exercise habits) had a slight reduction in fat mass after 12 weeks. Though these findings were consistent with animal research, this was the only human study to show a loss of fat. More human studies are needed to determine CLAs effectiveness for reducing fat, says Leah Whigman, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, who published a review in the December 2000 issue of Pharmacological Research.

Recommended Dosage: Most experts recommend 3.4 grams daily of CLA. Take it with meals to prevent gastrointestinal upset, suggests Pariza. CLA is safe to take indefinitely.

Fat Fighting Supplement

Fitness May 2001

Keep your eye on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fatty acid found naturally in beef. According to a 12-week study published in the Journal of Nutrition, just 3.4 grams of CLA a day may help you lose up to six pounds of fat in three months. Researchers did note one potential side effect: CLA may lower levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, which could up your risk of developing heart disease. The ratios of good cholesterol to bad remained constant, says study co-author Nils-Jan Wadstein, M.D., indicating that the drop in HDL may not be significant. Bottom line: Further research is needed. Well keep you posted.

New fat Fighter?

Family Circle - April 24, 2001

It may be possible for dieters to keep off fat and increase muscle. How? By taking a supplement containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), found in dairy and beef. According to Michael Pariza, Ph.D., director of the Food Research Institute at the university of Wisconsin at Madison, when dieters took about 3 grams of CLA daily, they were less likely to gain fat and more likely to gain muscle. CLA works by blocking fat cells from expanding, according to Dr. Pariza. He cautions, however, that CLA is not a miracle pill that will cause you to lose fat, but once youve lost weight, CLA may help maintain it. Additionally, the side effects of dieting (such as stomach problems and depression) were less severe in those taking CLA. But Dr. Pariza warns the buyer to beware since CLA supplements are not regulated by the FDA. He recommends that you look for a product that lists Tonalin (a high-quality CLA) among its ingredients.

Supplement

Mens Health March 2001

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid): A type of fat from burgers, eggs and butter that makes you thin? Yep. At least its done wonders slimming down laboratory mice. While early results in humans are still mixed (on study showed more fat loss, another showed less regain, and a third showed no effect), CLA is nonetheless a powerful antioxidant with possible cancer-fighting and heart-disease fighting properties.

Accidental Discovery May Produce Anticancer Pill from Fat

Prevention, February 2001

Back in the 1970s, food scientist Michael Pariza, PhD, was investigating how cooking hamburger meat triggers the formation of cancer-causing compounds. Curiously, he noticed that something else in the meat was actually lessening the harmful effects of these compounds. That somrthing he eventually identified as a special type of fat called CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), and scientists have been studying it ever since  with some amazing results.

Last April, we reported in Supplement News that in animal studies, CLA is proving to be one of the most potent of all natural cancer fighters against colon and breast cancers, according to CLA researcher Dale Bauman, PhD, of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. An explosion of research in the US and Europe  mostly animal and test tube studies  strongly suggests that CLA can also clear up clogged arteries, bolster the immune system, and even regulate body fat.

The trouble is, CLA comes only in animal products such as beef and whole dairy products such as ice cream, all foods we need to eat less often avoid the saturated fat they also contain. But what about supplements of CLA that eliminate the saturated fat? Is it time to take CLA in a pill?

The Evidence

No one is sure yet how CLA works, but some researchers suspect that it regulates cell messengers, such as prostaglandins. In this respect, CLA may resemble the action of another fat now recognized for its wide array of health benefits  the omega-3 fat in fish oil.

But to know whether CLA will help you and me, we need well-controlled studies using human subjects  an area where theres almost a total lack of published research. Dr. Pariza, now director of the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, conducted one of the few human clinical trials, in which 80 people were given 3 grams of CLA a day for six months to test safety and effectiveness in altering body fat. The findings, presented at the recent American Chemical Society meeting, show that CLA seems to reduce the rate of fat gain and enhance muscle mass. This, Dr. Pariza believes that CLA may help slow down middle-aged spread.

Most human studies so far have used dosages of about 3 grams of CLA a day. How does that compare with what you get in your normal diet? Not all researchers agree, but it may be 20 to 40 times as much as the average intake. And as we eat less animal food, we eat even less CLA. Typical levels of CLA in foods are0.14 grams in 3 ounces lean broiled ground beef; 0.04 grams in 8ounces whole milk; and 0.03 grams in 1 ounce cheddar cheese. In fat-free milk, there is no CLA.

The Bottom Line

Scientists wait anxiously to see if human trials now underway back up the exciting results of animal studies. Mark Cook, PhD, a University of Wisconsin researcher, is optimistic. It will take a lot more research, he says but my gut reaction is that it is possible well find that CLA is an essential nutrient. Dr. Pariza, who takes CLA on a regular basis himself, sums up his research this way: CLA appears to do many of the same things as fish oil . . . only it gets the same effects with about one tenth of the amount. But even though experts say that all evidence points to CLA being safe, those we spoke to arent ready to recommend CLA supplements to the public.

New Findings on Fat-Burner CLA!

Muscle Media - December 2000

In July of 1997, a study presented at the Federation for Applied Science and Experimental Biology national meeting in New Orleans caused quite a stir. Presented by a group of scientists from Norway, the study showed that in human, 3,000mg of a then little-known compound called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) taken daily could bring about an average 20% reduction in bodyfat.

Not surprisingly, this unexpected scientific bombshell raised more than a few eyebrows,. no way . . . a fat that burns fat!? Too good to be true! was the common sentiment of most in attendance. Skeptical, a number of researchers returned to the lab and put the compound through a wave of rigorous placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical studies to see if these claims could be validated.

Well, after three years, the long-awaited results are in  and they only confirm what the Norwegian researchers have said all along: CLA does indeed appear to help people significantly increase fat burning. Moreover, this new research suggests CLA may also help retain lean muscle mass and improve insulin levels, which is critical to bodyfat regulation.

The findings, presented this past August at the 220th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific association, could be good news for those wanting to take their fat-burning efforts to the next level  a level beyond what can be reasonably achieved through just diet and exercise. It appears CLA works to aid leanness in several ways: It keeps little fat cells from getting big, it encourages formation of muscle, and it enhances the oxidation of fat cells, said Dr. Michael Pariza, Ph.D., director of the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Dr. Pariza was one of more than 20 researchers who presented results from clinical studies of CLA during the conference.

Individuals who participated in two of the studies, one conducted in Norway and the other in the United States, experienced statistically significant reductions in bodyfat gain with no reported side effects. In another Norwegian study, people who took CLA lost statistically significant amounts of weight, without otherwise changing their diets.

CLA is the collective term for the different chemical variations of linoleic acid  one of the omega-6 essential fatty acids that cannot be made by the body but is necessary for thousands of biochemical reactions to take place. In the two decades since its discovery, CLA has been shown in over 300 studies to reduce catabolism (muscle breakdown), to enhance muscle growth, and even to be a potent cancer-fighting agent. Of greater interest to exercise enthusiasts, however, is this new wave of clinical research studying CLAs effects on metabolism and body composition.

Eighty people took part in the six-month U.S. study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The participants kept to a strict nutrition and exercise program and, as expected, most initially lost weight, according to Dr. Pariza, one of the lead researchers for the study. But, as often happens, many regained some of the weight when they stopped their diets, he said.

People who did not take CLA put their pounds back on at a ratio of 75% fat to 25% lean, which is typical for most people, points out Dr. Pariza. For the people taking CLA, less fat was regained and more muscle mass was retained. The ration was more like 50:50  50 % fat and 50% muscle, according to Dr. Pariza. That is very significant. It leads to the idea that CLA could be useful in weight management, he said. Our results also showed that CLA made it easier for people to stay on their nutrition program. The body fat gain of participants in the Norwegian study was less for those taking CLA.

Another Norwegian study presented at the conference suggests that CLA could help people take off pounds as well as reduce their body fat percentage. The 60 people who participated in the study were not allowed to diet, yet those who took CLA experienced a statistically significant weight loss. The researchers linked this to the supplement.

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