Fat-to-Muscle Reshuffle

Conjugated linoleic acid is known as the fat that makes you thin. Studied extensively at the University of Wisconsin’s Food Research Institute, CLA regulates an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase. That appears to prohibit fat from entering the cells. Current data also indicate that CLA, which is polyunsaturated, increases fat burning in skeletal muscle tissue and slows down fat formation.That encourages bodyfat reduction while increasing lean body mass production—muscle growth. In a recent study researchers in Norway performed a 12-month randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial and found that overweight subjects using 3.4 grams of CLA each day had substantial reductions in bodyfat mass. Additionally, in a study of 60 overweight individuals taking 3.4 grams of CLA a day for 12 weeks, most had dramatic reductions in bodyfat.

Studies conducted at the University of Wisconsin found that people who supplemented with CLA regained weight at a fat-to-muscle ratio of 50-50, whereas the ratio escalated to 75-25 in subjects not using CLA. There is also new evidence that you can take CLA about one hour before sleep to increase growth hormone release.