Effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on lean body mass, body fat mass, and muscular strength in healthy, exercising women at risk of developing sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle with age. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-control trial examined the ability of CLA in 13 women at risk of sarcopenia to enhance strength and body composition changes during 8 weeks of weight training. All strength measures significantly increased within both groups during the trial, but the changes were not significant between groups at any time-point. The placebo group significantly increased body weight (BW) by 2 kg and fat free mass (FFM) by 2 kg (p< 0.05), although there was a small 0.5kg decrease in body fat mass (BFM). The CLA group increased BW by 1 kg with a 2 kg decrease in BFM and a 2 kg increase in FFM as measured by skinfold calipers. In conclusion, data from this small study suggests, but does not confirm, that CLA may enhance body composition but does not appear to enhance strength measures.