Since its discovery as an anti-cancer component from ground beef, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has shown other biologically beneficial effects. One of the most interesting activities of CLA is its ability to reduce body fat, while improving lean and bone mass. CLA has tremendous effects on lipid metabolism and these effects of CLA contribute, either directly or indirectly, to its effects on muscle and bone metabolisms or vice versa. CLA fed animals showed increased activity levels and endurance capacity, which may link to its effects on increasing energy expenditure and fat utilization. In addition, CLA shifted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell balance between bone marrow adiposity and bone cell formation in favor of bone mass, resulting in reducing marrow adipocytes and increasing osteoblasts. These suggest a great potential for CLA to be used to improve body composition along with current efforts to control obesity and osteoporosis.

CLA's role in biochemical processes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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