What does CLA do for athletes?
Asked by: Prof. Alicia Beer | Last update: September 2, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (19 votes)
CLA also gained attention among resistance-trained athletes as agents for reducing catabolism, body fat and improving muscle mass during training, but supplementation of 6 g/d of CLA coupled with 3 g/d of FAs in the formulation (Tonalin®) against 9 g/d olive oil placebo for 28 d showed no significant ergogenic value, ...
Is CLA good for athletes?
Furthermore, CLA has been shown to reduce body fat and weight gains during a 'holiday' season and hence, CLA supplementation during the off-season may also be a strategy to adopt at the elite end of sports performance.
Does CLA help you lose belly fat?
Compounds like CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and green tea extract have been studied for their potential to reduce belly fat. Studies have shown that CLA can help reduce body fat, including belly fat, when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise.
What is the disadvantage of CLA?
Given the lack of evidence about its safety, doctors don't recommend CLA for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may cause dangerous effects on the liver. It may lower HDL, or good cholesterol. Some research has also documented an increase in inflammation with the use of CLA supplements.
Does CLA make you gain muscle?
One study published in Obesity in 2008 found that 3g of CLA, paired with 3g of Omega 3 fish oils was effective at increasing muscle mass by 2.4% over a 12 week period in obese young men.
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Does CLA affect testosterone?
Our in vivo data, which confirmed the in vitro data, showed that CLA supplementation may induce a further up-regulation of CYP17A1, resulting in an increase in circulating testosterone levels.
What should you not mix with CLA?
- Insulin or other diabetes medications. CLA can cause insulin resistance. ...
- Retinol (vitamin A). CLA can increase retinol levels and, therefore, may intensify side effects if taken together. ...
- Cholesterol medications.
Is CLA hard on the liver?
Many researchers have tabulated these dubious or dangerous chemicals, often of herbal origin. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is used to promote fat loss, as well as improve immunity and insulin sensitivity, has been associated with severe liver damage in some cases.
What does CLA do to the brain?
CLA is incorporated and metabolized into brain tissue where induces the biosynthesis of endogenous PPARα ligands palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA), likely through a positive feedback mechanism where PPARα activation sustains its own cellular effects through ligand biosynthesis.
How quickly does CLA work for weight loss?
Another study looked at the impact of a higher dosage of CLA (6.4g) on body weight in obese women. [8] This study found that taking CLA was associated with a lower BMI and lower fat tissue after 36 weeks. Key takeaway: These studies reveal a minimal decrease in overall weight as a result of CLA supplementation.
Which is better, L-carnitine or CLA?
The difference between L-Carnitine vs. CLA lies largely in their effectiveness and safety. While neither is a great weight loss supplement, L-Carnitine has more utility as a potential ergogenic aid and recovery supplement. Meanwhile, L-Carnitine is generally considered a safer supplement than CLA as well.
Does CLA reduce cellulite?
and some of these agents seem to be beneficial for the treatment of cellulite. In fact, CLA was proven to ameliorate the signs of cellulite. One product, Cellasene, containing a variety of botanicals and polyunsaturated fatty acids also appears to provide some relief from these symptoms.
Is CLA considered a fat burner?
Summary. CLA is a family of naturally occurring isomers of fatty acids that are present in some animal foods. While some people claim that CLA supplements aid in weight loss, research on CLA for weight loss in humans is not promising.
What are the cons of CLA?
It might cause side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and headache. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: CLA is likely safe when taken by mouth in amounts normally found in foods.
Is CLA anti-inflammatory?
While great attention is paid to the anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of CLA, the possibility of using this compound for IBD treatment has been scarcely investigated.
Does CLA lower testosterone?
Testosterone Production In Vitro
In the R2C cells, the CLA working solution induced an increase in the concentration of the secreted testosterone within 48 hours (Figure 1). Testosterone secretion increased linearly with CLA supplementation (R 2 = 0.520, p < 0.018). This effect was not evident at 24-hour treatment.
Does CLA build muscle?
The group given CLA demonstrated a gain in lean mass that was seven-fold better than the placebo-treated group. Yes, 700% greater! Whereas the placebo group gained almost half a kilogram of body fat, the CLA group lost almost a kilogram (2 pounds) of pure body fat.
Is CLA harmful to kidneys?
In contrast to the effects of disease, dietary CLA did not alter kidney or liver size or measures of renal function.
Do athletes take CLA?
CLA also gained attention among resistance-trained athletes as agents for reducing catabolism, body fat and improving muscle mass during training, but supplementation of 6 g/d of CLA coupled with 3 g/d of FAs in the formulation (Tonalin®) against 9 g/d olive oil placebo for 28 d showed no significant ergogenic value, ...
Does CLA affect hormones?
CLA significantly decreased serum levels of FSH (p<0.05), LH, estradiol, NO, leptin and TNFα (p<0.01). In addition, CLA decreased progesterone levels but this effect was statistically insignificant. The significantly negative effects of CLA were seen on the ovarian production of PGE2 and PGF2α (p<0.01).
Can you take CLA and creatine at the same time?
A significant body of research supports claims that CLA and other supplements like creatine, whey and L-carnitine work synergistically to enhance weight loss and improve body composition.
How to reduce visceral fat in the body?
- being physically active for at least 30 minutes most days.
- eating a healthy diet.
- not smoking.
- avoiding or reducing your consumption of sugary drinks.
- getting enough sleep.
Is CLA good for skin?
Cosmetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) lipids have been shown to significantly improve the photoaged appearance of skin. We have previously reported that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) delivers a variety of antiaging benefits to skin.
Does CLA give you energy?
It's popular in weight loss and sporting communities as a solution for burning fat, building muscle, and boosting energy. Despite its widespread use, experts don't recommend using it as a dietary and fitness supplement. This is because there is not enough evidence to prove the health benefits of CLA.