Research
Macro partitioning
The trans-10,cis-12 isomer of CLA is responsible for the modulation of body composition (reduction in body fat), whereas the cis-9,trans-11 isomer has no effect on body fat reduction.
When selecting a CLA supplement, ensure it contains the trans-10,cis-12 isomer, as this is the specific isomer responsible for body composition changes. The naturally occurring cis-9,trans-11 isomer found in dairy does not share this property.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The isomer-specific studies revealed that the trans-10,cis-12 isomer is responsible for CLA’s role in the modulation of body composition, but the cis-9,trans-11 isomer has no effect (Park et al. 1999c).
Why this rating
Based on isomer-specific studies cited in the review, though the text notes most human studies used the mixture.
Source
Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Potential Health Benefits as a Functional Food Ingredient
Jun Ho Kim et al. · Annual Review of Food Science and Technology · 2016
narrative_reviewCited 237×
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