Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

Indication: Immunity

Source: Eur J Clin Nutr, 2003;57:595-603.

Research: Researchers asked 71 healthy men, ages 31 to 69 years, to take one of three supplement regimens daily for 12 weeks. One group took supplements containing 1.7 grams of CLA, consisting of 50% c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA isomers. The second group took supplements containing 1.6 grams of CLA, consisting of 80% c9,t11 and 20% t10,c12 CLA isomers. The third group took capsules containing sunflower oil, which served as placebo. The subjects received three vaccinations for hepatitis B six weeks after they began taking either CLA or placebo.

Results: After the 12-week study, re­searchers measured the immune response of the subjects to hepatitis B vaccinations. Sixty-two percent of the men taking the 50:50 mix of CLA isomers formed protective antibody levels, compared with 33% of the men taking placebos and 36% of the men taking the 80:20 mix of CLA isomers.