CLA supplementation can help overweight asthmatics 

In a research study funded by speciality chemistry company Cognis and using Cognis’ Tonalin branded CLA (a mixture of isomers: cis-9, trans-11 – 36.4% – and trans-10, cis-12 37%) 28 overweight mild asthmatics aged between 19 and 40 were recruited to participate in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 4.5 grams per day of CLA or placebo for 12 weeks.

At the end of the study the researchers noted significant improvements in airway hyper-responsiveness, accompanied by a significant improvement in their ability to tolerate strenuous exercise. The CLA group also experienced significant improvements in the BMI, with an average reduction of 0.5 kg/m2, compared to a 0.8 kg/m2 increase in the placebo group.

The researchers could not be sure whether the improvement in AHR was due to direct effects on airway inflammation (likely cis-9, trans-11 mediated) or were related to altered body composition and adipocytokine levels (likely trans-10, cis-12 mediated) in our overweight population.

Clinical & Experimental Allergy July 2010, Volume 40, Pages 1071-1078
“Conjugated linoleic acid improves airway hyper-reactivity in overweight mild asthmatics” R. MacRedmond, G. Singhera, S. Attridge, M. Bahzad, C. Fava, Y. Lai, T. S. Hallstrand, D. R. Dorscheid

Top of page