This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study is closed. There has been a large increase in the number of obese adults in the United States since 1970. Currently, over 60% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Treatment of obesity by diet and exercise to reduce body weight, however, has only been moderately effective as most individuals tend to regain any weight they may have lost within five years after treatment. We therefore investigated the effects of a safe dietary supplement that is known to reduce obesity in animals. We performed a controlled six-month clinical trial in human subjects to determine the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in fat loss and fat burned. Half of the subjects received daily supplements of CLA and half an inactive oil in a way in which neither the people running the study nor the participants know if they are receiving CLA or the inactive oil. Forty-nine healthy, overweight adults were studied. They were counseled on a healthy lifestyle including mild to moderate physical activity, decreased dietary fat and increased dietary fiber consumption. Six months of CLA supplementation among overweight adults reduced body fat by 3.7 lbs while the subjects eating the inactive oil gained 2 lbs during the holiday season. This indicates that CLA may play a role in lessening the cumulative weight and fat gains that occur during adulthood, particularly during the holiday season when many people gain weight. The CLA treatment increased fat burning during sleep compared to the inactive oil. The increase indicates that CLA acts by increasing how much fat a person burns.
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