Health Benefits of Omega-6 CLA

The omega-6 conjugated-linoleic acid (CLA) naturally occurs in red meat and dairy but modern processing techniques can strip CLA from food, which increases the likelihood of deficiencies arising.

In addition, while red meat and dairy may be healthy in moderation, following a diet that is too rich in either is inadvisable because both are associated with high saturated fat and cholesterol.

An alternative source of CLA may be found in one of man's oldest cultivated crops, namely the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). It is cultivated mainly for its seed, from which the omega-6 rich oil derives.

Although there is currently little data on humans, laboratory and animal experiments show that CLA may bring a multitude of health benefits.

CLA may have anti-carcinogenic effects. Research suggests that it is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer and the reduction of chemically-induced cancers in animals. In a study conducted by Chin et al, rats fed diets containing 0.5% or 1.5% CLA had a total reduction of the number of breast-cancer tumours by 32% and 56%, respectively.[i]

CLA decreases LDL cholesterol by influencing body composition and reducing fat while maintaining and increasing lean body mass. In a study by Gaullier et. al., human participants showed a 9% reduction in body fat and a 2% increase in lean body mass, with no change in diet or exercise. CLA reduces the rate at which fat cells grow and encourages muscle development by ensuring that glucose is quickly directed straight to the muscle cells, before it can nourish unwanted fat cells.[ii]

CLA promotes cardiovascular health by preventing the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries and around the heart. Studies have shown that diets rich in CLA reduce the likelihood of symptoms of atherosclerosis developing.

Enhanced immune function may result from a diet rich in CLA. In one study published in Poultry Science, chicks fed a diet containing 0.5% CLA were found to have stronger immune systems than those that were not. Results showed that they had improved seek-and-destroy capabilities for targeting invading bacteria.

References

[i] Chin S.F,, Ip C., Scimeca J.A., Pariza M.W.. Mammary cancer prevention by conjugated dienoic derivative of linoleic acid. Cancer Res 1991 Nov 15;51(22):6118-24