The effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on metabolic syndrome patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Main Authors: Boyeon Kim, Ha Rae Lim, Heeyoung Lee, Hyangki Lee, Wonku Kang, Eunyoung Kim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016-08-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Conjugated linoleic acid; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; High density lipoprotein; Randomized controlled trials
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175646461630189X

The aim of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted from inception to February 2015 were collected from seven databases. Among 1111 potentially relevant articles, nine RCTs (total 334 patients, 90% male) met inclusion criteria. A significant reduction in the CLA group in body weight and BMI (−0.51 kg [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.96, −0.07; p = 0.02] and −0.18 kg/m2 [95% CI: −0.32, −0.04; p = 0.01], respectively) was found compared to control. No effect was seen on blood pressure, insulin resistance, or triacylglycerol, but a reduction in HDL in the CLA group (−0.06 mmol/L [95% CI: −0.09, −0.03; p = 0.0002]) was found to be statistically and clinically significant. In MS patients, CLA was effective on weight loss and BMI, but adversely reduced HDL. Thus, precautions should be taken with CLA use for MS patients.