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It is not as "strong" as thermogenic , but it is an ideal supporter of these processes - it can therefore be effectively combined with caffeine burners and l-carnitine to add a new stimulus, and at the same time to intensify the effects of the others. CLA is also relatively often used as a stand-alone supplement during the reduction period - not only due to its active participation in the reduction processes, but also for health-promoting and antioxidant purposes.
Where did CLA come from?
You have certainly heard about healthy, unsaturated fatty acids from the Omega-6 group - linoleic acid is classified as such. It has exogenous potential, as it is an essential component, and as a result, it must be supplied from the outside, because the human body is unable to synthesize it on its own. Why did I start this way? Well, CLA is called conjugated linoleic acid, as it is one of the isomers of linoleic acid, characterized by two double-conjugated chemical bonds - it is sometimes also called rumenic acid.
It occurs naturally in dairy products with a relatively high fat content, as well as in the meat of ruminants. Rumenic acid was first isolated in the USA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison - it was a kind of breakthrough, as it is one of the few naturally occurring fatty acids with a trans chemical configuration that have any positive effects. There are of course other fatty acids with the same configuration type, but they are a product of the technological process of hardening oils - therefore, it cannot be said that such fatty acids are beneficial to our health (in contrast to conjugated linoleic acid). In general and relatively simplified terms, it can be said that CLA is formed through the so-called biohydrogenation process of linoleic acid to stearic acid. The entire process, however, takes place with the participation of active microorganisms found in ruminants (more precisely in the so-called rumens of these animals).
How CLA is obtained - biohydrogenation
We have already mentioned that conjugated linoleic acid is an intermediate product in the biohydrogenation of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. This process is called hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which takes place primarily in the digestive tract of ruminants - they are polygastric animals, not monogastric like humans. Why does it make such a difference?
Well, it all depends on the anaerobic bacteria Butyrivibrio fibrisolvents, which occur in the digestive tract of polygastric animals - thanks to them, or more precisely their enzymes, the so-called isomerization of linoleic acid molecules takes place. The metabolism of humans and other monogastric species means that a large part of the linoleic acid supplied from the outside is absorbed in the small intestine, while extremely small amounts are delivered to the large intestine, where they are subjected to bacterial enzymes. A certain part of CLA, which was produced in ruminants, is "stored" in milk fat, spare fat and intramuscular fat.
As you can see, monogastric animals - including humans - are able to produce/convert other compounds into CLA, but these amounts are too small due to metabolic and physiological conditions, and therefore do not have a relatively large effect on the body. That is why the largest amounts of CLA are found in full-fat cow's milk, full-fat dairy products and beef - in fact, in the fat of these products.
Impact on fat storage and reduction
CLA in the form of a biologically active supplement is valued for its positive effects during the period of reduction of unnecessary fat tissue. Remember the part devoted to L-Carnitine? I mentioned there that L-carnitine molecules have the ability to combine with higher fatty acids (among fatty acids, the largest amount of them circulating in the body is noted), which are not able to penetrate mitochondrial membranes and be burned/converted into energy in this center.
CLA in its bioactive form is able to influence the quality of fatty acid transport - more precisely, it stimulates the transport of lipid molecules to mitochondria, which are the centers of fat burning. By stimulating the transport of fatty acids, larger amounts of them are captured and a relatively higher burning threshold can be noted - it can therefore be concluded that CLA affects the reduction of free fatty acid deposition in the form of subcutaneous, stored adipose tissue. What else?
Well, thanks to such a mechanism of reducing support, the human body is able to save energy storage, which lasts for a relatively longer period of time, and thus better use fats for energy purposes. The CLA supplement is therefore also an extremely useful agent when building so-called "dry", low-fat muscle mass. It can also be useful as a preventive/prophylactic agent, which during classic muscle mass building can reduce the amount of stored fat during an obvious surplus of both calories and carbohydrates. It regulates fat metabolism in the human body.
Health!
The health-promoting effects of CLA on the human body have been proven by many studies, both laboratory and statistical. It has a special health-promoting application in the case of cancer prevention - regular consumption of full-fat products (appropriate products in optimal amounts) affects the inhibition of the so-called proliferation of cancer cells. CLA therefore shows cytostatic properties in relation to cancer. For example, the Finns, in their epidemiological studies, noted a reduced incidence of breast cancer in women who used appropriately conjugated linoleic acid in their daily diet.
Rumenic acid, as an animal fat, contrary to appearances, has a positive effect on cholesterol levels, as it actively reduces the amount of total cholesterol, and consequently regulates the LDL to HDL ratio (also reducing the bad form of cholesterol in the blood) - it prevents cholesterol oxidation processes and lowers the amount of triglycerides. Following this line of reasoning, it can be stated that CLA has a preventive positive effect on atherosclerotic changes and the functioning of the circulatory and cardiovascular systems (also protecting against myocardial infarction and the clogging of veins and arteries).
There is also data on the health-promoting effects of CLA on type II diabetes based on its effect on optimizing glucose levels - it is not known how much truth there is in this, but one fact is: taking a supplement will not hurt, and it may help.
Janusz Ziolkowski - www.bb-mag.pl
