Define CLA

CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid. CLA may help reduce body fat mass, reduce risk for certain types of cancer -- including stomach and colon cancers -- and protect against arthrosclerosis, according to a 2003 study published in "Lipids in Health and Disease." It also has purported benefits for high cholesterol and alleviating inflammatory bowel disease. CLA occurs naturally and also may be found in supplement form. Consult a doctor before boosting your intake of this fat.

Identification

The scientific names for the most common types of CLA are cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid. What this means is that CLA is the collective term for a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In general, CLA refers to positional and geometrical isomers of linoleic acid that have conjugated double bonds. In general, these occur at carbon positions nine and 11 or at positions 10 and 11.

Sources

CLA is mainly found in dairy products and red meats. It's one of the most bioactive components of milk fat, which is the richest natural source of conjugated linoleic acid. Milk contains cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid. While dairy products are the richest natural source for this fat, content can vary widely due to pasture and feeding conditions.

Location in Meat

In meat such as beef, CLA is located in interstitial fat. This type of fat is distributed along muscle fibers; it's not the visible type of fat that you'd trim from your meat when preparing it for a meal. Lean meat, in fact, has twice as much CLA as fatty meat, notes the 2003 "Lipids in Health and Disease" study. Grass-fed beef has more CLA than beef fed with manufactured foods, study authors Aldo R. Eynard and Cristina B. Lopez note. In contrast, beef fed with manufactured foods has more saturated fat.

Effects

CLA has strong antioxidant properties. This may be responsible for some of its benefits, Eynard and Lopez say. CLA also reduces synthesis of prostaglandins in your body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances produced by your cells. Reducing synthesis of prostaglandins can help reduce inflammation. CLA also may cause cell death in adipose, or fat, tissue, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York.

Supplements

CLA supplements are available. If you take CLA supplements, adverse effects may include severe fatigue and gastrointestinal problems. They also may increase insulin resistance, which can lead to a rise in blood-glucose levels and increase potassium levels.