CLA Booster

mrsberries

Hi

Just wondering if anyone is using this product. Its by Pharma Nord and supposed to help with reaching your weight loss goals. Im doing weight watchers, which is going great - down 10lbs now, but would like to help shift the excess flab that is extremely stubborn. Ive about another 10lbs to go til I get to a healthy bmi, plus Im getting married next year which is a goal for me.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

THanks

dulchie75

Just wondering if you tried these out, where they any good?

mrsberries

Got a fright when I saw my name against this post - thought it was a virus!!

I bought them ages ago but gave it up in favour of eating low carb/high fat so not sure how they'd react with my new way of eating. Ive bought all kinds of fat metabolisers/appetite suppressants/funny teas but they just dont work im afraid

They seem to have a good reputation though.

El_Dangeroso

mrsberries wrote: »

Got a fright when I saw my name against this post - thought it was a virus!!

I bought them ages ago but gave it up in favour of eating low carb/high fat so not sure how they'd react with my new way of eating. Ive bought all kinds of fat metabolisers/appetite suppressants/funny teas but they just dont work im afraid

They seem to have a good reputation though.

CLA is abundant in high fat dairy so you're sorted for it anyway Mrs.B!

Transform

exactly, just use real butter

p4ddyv.

CLA is absolutely useless unless its used in high doses, even then its results are negligible.. save your money and just burn more calories than you eat

Sapsorrow

I just this minute finished going through my notes on CLA for an exam next week and I cn tell you it's a waste of money.

From my notes (sorry it's so big I'm cutting and pasting them from a word file and can't seem to make it any smaller);

Animal studies show that CLA can reduce adiposity and increase lean body mass and these changes seem to be associated with t-10,c12

Studies in humans are contradictory.

Terpstra (2004) reviewed the evidence and suggests that results indicate that the effect of CLA on body fat is considerably less than that anticipated from mice studies.

A review of evidence suggests that CLA had no significant effect on body weight or body weight gain in humans [Terpstra, 2004]

Of 8 studies, only 2 found an effect on body fat mass (and the subjects in these studies participated in light or intensive training program) [Terpstra, 2004]


Furthermore;

In humans, CLA (as a mixture of isomers) improved fasting blood glucose, but CLA has also been shown to increase insulin resistance in mice and obese men with metabolic syndrome

In humans, t-10,c-12 CLA increased insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.

Most supplements contain mixtures of two CLA isomers: the cis-9, trans-11 isomer (the predominant CLA isomer in milk and beef) as well as the trans-10, cis-12 (t10c12) isomer.

It is the trans-10, cis-12 isomer that is linked to many adverse side effects.

Research indicates that supplementation with t10c12 CLA dramatically increases rates of oxidative stress, to levels considerably higher than that observed in heavy smokers.

El_Dangeroso

Nice find Krystyna! Another case of people reading a few animal studies and letting their imaginations run away with them!

CLA does have anti-cancer effects by inhibiting breast cancer cell growth and reducing the activation of insulin-like growth factor receptors though.

As a miracle weight loss solution though..probably not. Pity!

Do you have a link to the oxidative stress paper? I hadn't heard that, that's always the danger of isolating nutrients from food I suppose, you never know what might be negating the negative effects of a particular chemical. Sigh, so confusing!

Sapsorrow

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Nice find Krystyna! Another case of people reading a few animal studies and letting their imaginations run away with them!

CLA does have anti-cancer effects by inhibiting breast cancer cell growth and reducing the activation of insulin-like growth factor receptors though.

As a miracle weight loss solution though..probably not. Pity!

Do you have a link to the oxidative stress paper? I hadn't heard that, that's always the danger of isolating nutrients from food I suppose, you never know what might be negating the negative effects of a particular chemical. Sigh, so confusing!

Ya the anti-cancer effects are very promising alright but I'd wary myself about the insulin thing, there seems to be a hell of a lot of gaps in the research at the minute.
Fraid I don't have the title for the paper, I can always email my lecturer if you want it though.
Apparantly kangeroo meats the best source how random!

El_Dangeroso

Pity kangaroo meat is awful. Tried it in oz..bleuch.

Sapsorrow

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Pity kangaroo meat is awful. Tried it in oz..bleuch.

Is it ya! Theres a mad restaurant out in the stix of west cork run by an eccentric australian guy and he does loads of stuff with kangaroo, crocodile and eel meat and the likes.

Pembily

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Pity kangaroo meat is awful. Tried it in oz..bleuch.

I had a kangaroo burger in Amsterdam by accident - I ordered steak and he ordered kangaroo and it got mixed up and didnt notice a difference until she told me she had made a mistake!!! Not going to go out of my way to eat it though!!

Bent H

- don't know where you got your notes from.

CLA works just fine - plenty of studies document the effects in humans. One of the main studies showed a significant reduction of fat mass in overweight people:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/6/1118

You just need to follow the recommended dosage - and don't expect miracles overnight.

Personally, I have had good results with CLA Booster:

http://www.pharmanord.ie/contentServlet/cla_booster_pharma_nord.htm

Bent

khrystyna100 wrote: »

I just this minute finished going through my notes on CLA for an exam next week and I cn tell you it's a waste of money.

From my notes (sorry it's so big I'm cutting and pasting them from a word file and can't seem to make it any smaller);

Animal studies show that CLA can reduce adiposity and increase lean body mass and these changes seem to be associated with t-10,c12

Studies in humans are contradictory.

Terpstra (2004) reviewed the evidence and suggests that results indicate that the effect of CLA on body fat is considerably less than that anticipated from mice studies.

A review of evidence suggests that CLA had no significant effect on body weight or body weight gain in humans [Terpstra, 2004]

Of 8 studies, only 2 found an effect on body fat mass (and the subjects in these studies participated in light or intensive training program) [Terpstra, 2004]


Furthermore;

In humans, CLA (as a mixture of isomers) improved fasting blood glucose, but CLA has also been shown to increase insulin resistance in mice and obese men with metabolic syndrome

In humans, t-10,c-12 CLA increased insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.

Most supplements contain mixtures of two CLA isomers: the cis-9, trans-11 isomer (the predominant CLA isomer in milk and beef) as well as the trans-10, cis-12 (t10c12) isomer.

It is the trans-10, cis-12 isomer that is linked to many adverse side effects.

Research indicates that supplementation with t10c12 CLA dramatically increases rates of oxidative stress, to levels considerably higher than that observed in heavy smokers.

Sapsorrow

Bent H wrote: »

- don't know where you got your notes from.

From the head of the nutrition department in UCC

Sapsorrow

Bent H wrote: »

- don't know where you got your notes from.

CLA works just fine - plenty of studies document the effects in humans. One of the main studies showed a significant reduction of fat mass in overweight people:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/6/1118

You just need to follow the recommended dosage - and don't expect miracles overnight.

Personally, I have had good results with CLA Booster:

http://www.pharmanord.ie/contentServlet/cla_booster_pharma_nord.htm

Bent

Pharmacompany sponsored research usually finds that their product works so you have be discerning about whether the research you're looking at was biased in the first place which is difficult becuase a lot of the time it's done under the table.

As my notes pointed out in a review of the human intervention studies only 2 out of 8 found an effect. Thats only 25% not great proof of effectivenenss in my opinion. Citing the results of one study doesnt prove anything, you have to consider all the trials before you can draw that conclusion which is what a review does.

How do you know the CLA worked for you exactly? Did you combine it with dietary or exercise changes?

metamorphosis

While i didnt click on the links posted, if it is research funded by a company who has vested interests in CLA supplementation, then i would have as much faith in it as a large scale study by kellogs showing that frosties are the most nutririous breakfast cereal out there.

What i don't understand is, why supplement something like CLA that can be easily acquired available through foods that are eaten every day?

totoal

What i don't understand is, why supplement something like CLA that can be easily acquired available through foods that are eaten every day?

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metamorphosis

It's obvious why the companies would do it - moolah and all that. I was more copming from the individuals need for it

Bent H

ULstudent wrote: »

While i didnt click on the links posted, if it is research funded by a company who has vested interests in CLA supplementation, then i would have as much faith in it as a large scale study by kellogs showing that frosties are the most nutririous breakfast cereal out there.

What i don't understand is, why supplement something like CLA that can be easily acquired available through foods that are eaten every day?

- you get very little from the modern diet - specially people trying to loose weight/fat, as they often opt for low calorie products.

CLA is well documented - just do your own search, e.g on pubmed.

totoal

ULstudent wrote: »

It's obvious why the companies would do it - moolah and all that. I was more coming from the individuals need for it

I've seen it recommended in some books.
Plus some (unenlightened?) people recommend reducing intake of Full fat milk,butter,red meat and never had a skippy burger myself.

Bent H

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Pharmacompany sponsored research usually finds that their product works so you have be discerning about whether the research you're looking at was biased in the first place which is difficult becuase a lot of the time it's done under the table.

As my notes pointed out in a review of the human intervention studies only 2 out of 8 found an effect. Thats only 25% not great proof of effectivenenss in my opinion. Citing the results of one study doesnt prove anything, you have to consider all the trials before you can draw that conclusion which is what a review does.

How do you know the CLA worked for you exactly? Did you combine it with dietary or exercise changes?

I have been doing physicial exercise for a few years...BFM has been approx 20% for some time - after using CLA for 5 months BFM is now on 17%.
Anyways, European Food Satefy Authority will soon publish approved health claims on various nutritients, incl CLA.

p4ddyv

anyway if you want a proper fat burner, just buy some eca's online from the uk.

Sapsorrow

Bent H wrote: »

I have been doing physicial exercise for a few years...BFM has been approx 20% for some time - after using CLA for 5 months BFM is now on 17%.
Anyways, European Food Satefy Authority will soon publish approved health claims on various nutritients, incl CLA.

To be fair one persons anecdotal evidence means f-all.
Also how can you be sure that the EFSA are going to approve the claims on CLA in particular? If anything I'd say CLA will be one of the ones to fail miserably once put under scrutiny.
I find it interesting that while you reccomend doing the research you come to a different conclusion to the scientists who have gone out of their way to specifically review and criticially analyse the research on this topic to date. You need to weigh up the studies finding a postivie effect against those that didn't and consider the statistical significance of the positivie correlation before you can come to a conclusion did you actually look at all the in vitro and in vivo work done on it?
I think it's unwise to ignore the fact that one of the 2 isomer types in the supplemental form (not the dietary) has been strongly associated with such negative effects as oxidative stress and insulin resistance.

Bent H

khrystyna100 wrote: »

To be fair one persons anecdotal evidence means f-all.
Also how can you be sure that the EFSA are going to approve the claims on CLA in particular? If anything I'd say CLA will be one of the ones to fail miserably once put under scrutiny.
I find it interesting that while you reccomend doing the research you come to a different conclusion to the scientists who have gone out of their way to specifically review and criticially analyse the research on this topic to date. You need to weigh up the studies finding a postivie effect against those that didn't and consider the statistical significance of the positivie correlation before you can come to a conclusion did you actually look at all the in vitro and in vivo work done on it?
I think it's unwise to ignore the fact that one of the 2 isomer types in the supplemental form (not the dietary) has been strongly associated with such negative effects as oxidative stress and insulin resistance.

I full agree with the above - let the scientists analyse the substance. EFSA will do so in 2010. But rest assure that if any side-effects were associated with the substance it would be removed from the market.
In this case, side-effects have been observed when using just one of the isomers - commercially available products combine the 2 in ratio 50:50.
For more info - look here : http://fri.wisc.edu/clarefs.htm#2010

El_Dangeroso

p4ddyv wrote: »

anyway if you want a proper fat burner, just buy some eca's online from the uk.

Recommending ECA's is against the charter of this forum. Plus Ephedrine, which is the active component in ECA stacks are illegal in that format in this country.

Long-term effects of ECA supplementation is damage to the heart and central nervous system.

Sapsorrow

Bent H wrote: »

I full agree with the above - let the scientists analyse the substance. EFSA will do so in 2010. But rest assure that if any side-effects were associated with the substance it would be removed from the market.
In this case, side-effects have been observed when using just one of the isomers - commercially available products combine the 2 in ratio 50:50.
For more info - look here : http://fri.wisc.edu/clarefs.htm#2010

TBH I don't have a massive amount of faith in the food and drug safety regulation to date, it wasn't that long ago that we had disasters with Thalidomide and the likes due to crappy regulation and a lack of enforcement regarding toxicity testing. My toxicology lecturer said the vast majority of pharmaceuticals still haven't undergone stringent testing for toxicity but as they've been on the market for a while they pass through the net and it hasn't been much different for nutraceuticals.
Thank god for the new regulation it's been left go for far too long, one of my lecturers prof Flynn is head of the health claims assesment panel of EFSA so thats why we're doing all this stuff in class this year including assessing the claims for CLA.
Like you said about the isomers my point was that the natural form of CLA seems to have great benifits associated with it but like you said the supplements have the dodgy form too and I can't see them getting away with having the supplement on the market with both isomers once the regulation comes in. Theres not enough research at the minute to gaurantee safety and considering there has been a fair amount of evidence to show it's toxicity I'd be shocked if it gets passed, I'd put money on it!

dolly101

All I know is that I have been using them for the last 3 days at 6 a day with meals, have lost 1.2kg, (tho have being doing more excercise as recommended) and have to pee an awful lot, so must be doing something or expelling something???

Transform

dolly101 wrote: »

All I know is that I have been using them for the last 3 days at 6 a day with meals, have lost 1.2kg, (tho have being doing more excercise as recommended) and have to pee an awful lot, so must be doing something or expelling something???

rapid weight loss using ANY program intitially is normal - overall CLA will not make as big a diffrence as a good diet and proper training

El_Dangeroso

dolly101 wrote: »

All I know is that I have been using them for the last 3 days at 6 a day with meals, have lost 1.2kg, (tho have being doing more excercise as recommended) and have to pee an awful lot, so must be doing something or expelling something???

Never underestimate the power of the placebo effect, placebos have been shown to measurably cure stomach ulcers. I bet cos you've been taking it with meals you're more likely to eat healthier foods.

When this stuff is tested against placebo for weight loss, it fails miserably.

Emma216

From what i always understood CLA was never a FAT BURNER.The advertisment on t.v is ridiculous and gives the consumer the idea it will melt the fat off you.What people have to realise you need to exercise for the CLA to work as it only has a small effect on increasing the muscle ratio in your body.and the more lean muscle you gain the more calories you burn longterm.The green tea has a slight thermogenic effect on your metabolism and is good for preventing fat being absorbed in the intestines,but its no miracle worker.
I think as a product it would be more beneficial to bodybulders who want to maintain a low fat and high lean muscle ratio and for people lacking in or losing muscle tome e.g people over 50+

alfy101

only recently i started getting into supplimeant side of things and was and still am weery, how ever i found liquid carnitine a big big help. it converts fat into energy, got a bottle of it in a shop but there sold out, going to try the hollend and barret tablet form soon, let you know how it goes

Coconutqueen

dolly101 wrote: »

All I know is that I have been using them for the last 3 days at 6 a day with meals, have lost 1.2kg, (tho have being doing more excercise as recommended) and have to pee an awful lot, so must be doing something or expelling something???

Youre peeing alot because CLA booster have something in them which increases insulin resistance, so like when a diabetic doesnt have enough insulin your body is producing ketones and making you thirsty to try and get you to drink water and flush them out. Its very dangerous and you should really take extra potassium if you still take the cla boosters. Sounds dodgy tbh.

mloc

The 10,12 isomer of this is not nice stuff; yes, it does have adipocity reducing effects, but at the cost of insulin resistance and liver damage. The 10,12 isomer, which is often the predominant isomer in supplements, is generally not the isomer found in natural foodstuffs.

Mark#1

So has there been any more study on CLA Booster supplements?

I'm commencing some mild/moderate semi-formal exercise, and I spoke with my GP & trusted local chemist about my state of health/fitness, and my current diet and apropriate changes I need to make, including supplements.

To help get my weight down (or rather, lose some fat - at 5' 11" & 14st 7lb, I feel like I have fat rather than I am fat) they both recommended a CLA booster, along with the exercise and cutting junk out of my diet.

Started taking CLA pills today. Exercise program starts tomorrow morning.

Mack_1111

If you take the CLA and commence exercise how will you know if it works or not? Why not try the CLA first and see if it makes a difference, if it does well and good if it doesn't then no need to waste your money on it!

Mark#1

I've no intention of taking a CLA booster as an experiment to see if they work. I'm taking them because medical professionals trusted by me recommended them to me in addition to exercising - basically, they should help reduce the amount of fat I'm carrying.

Mark

Mack_1111

Then why did you ask?

Mark#1

What's your problem? Why make the effort to make a post like that?

I simply like information, as I suspect do most folk reading through a thread like this, so unless you have some, respectfully, please consider not posting.


Mark

cordub

i see they are now advertising it on TV3 have all your ideas changed lately everyone????

Orla K

I know someone that took this last year, they didn't do any exercise other than walking to and from work and maybe some walks later, they're diet was awful just sugar and carbs(and not veg/fruit) they ate very little and drank too much cider. No shock there that it was a waste of money. It's not the pill that works it's the diet and exercise.

cordub

thank you was wondering had things changed in the year since this was posted

alexsmith

i cant believe people are actually considering buying this product.cla does nothing

its amazing what some people will do to avoid exercise and diet

jojo86

I exercise and eat well,always have. In the past while iv jumped in weight. I also have back problems and many problems with muscle weakness. I do all physio exercises to try strengthen abs, thighs etc. I also do pilates. But I cannot strengthen my muscles, I don't know why but I do know its causing me more back/knee issues. If there is a supplement that's going to help build muscle I'm in. Id like to no more about CLA other than "it doesn't work, only diet and exercise work" as they don't for me. Iv also read CLA with green tea supplements are the job.
However, I do not like wasting money so any positive advice on whether CLA works or even an alternative that works would be excellent.
Also, iv read many people saying doctors/trainers have recommended it so can it be all bad? Half the crap they pump into supposed healthy food is prob worse for you tbh.

cordub

jojo86 wrote: »

I exercise and eat well,always have. In the past while iv jumped in weight. I also have back problems and many problems with muscle weakness. I do all physio exercises to try strengthen abs, thighs etc. I also do pilates. But I cannot strengthen my muscles, I don't know why but I do know its causing me more back/knee issues. If there is a supplement that's going to help build muscle I'm in. Id like to no more about CLA other than "it doesn't work, only diet and exercise work" as they don't for me. Iv also read CLA with green tea supplements are the job.
However, I do not like wasting money so any positive advice on whether CLA works or even an alternative that works would be excellent.
Also, iv read many people saying doctors/trainers have recommended it so can it be all bad? Half the crap they pump into supposed healthy food is prob worse for you tbh.

I agree with you and sometimes if your so overweight its hard to exercise without doing damage,I know the right way to do it through exercise im just looking for the easy option

jojo86

Ok well I got CLA. It's ingredients are healthy and include green tea which us awesome as I can't stomach drinking. Only taken 2. No mad side effects except I couldn't eat the same amount at lunch as usual. That's either me or it effected my appetite. I'm not sick, no head aches. Sorry for this next bit but I'm not usually a regular person, if you get me, and it Ja aided that but not in an OTT way. When i say I'm not regular I mean if the average person has say 2movements a day I have 0 a week and that has improved.
But I need to make it clear its not a cramp or abnormal or anything. So nothing bad. I expect I will be exerciseing as well as there is no miracle pill bit it may aid in boosting weight loss with a healthy approach.
To those who say what's the point if you have to exercise? It is just a supplement, its to help metabolism so its healthy. To lose weight with it you need to be healthy. It's a bit extra for those who struggle more than those who can lose weight easily. We are not all as blessed.

mloc

cordub wrote: »

im just looking for the easy option

There is no easy option.

El_Dangeroso

The caffeine in the green tea does help with the 'ol regularity so that explains that.

Just to clarify that there is a big difference between synthetic CLA which is found in these supplements and the natural CLA found in dairy fat.

Synthetic CLA might even worsen insulin resistance. (ref)

Most studies show that CLA can increase weight loss by a whopping 100g on average after 12 months of taking it..so €24 x 9 for a years supply, that's over €200 to lose less than a quarter pound!

jojo86

ok can i just say iv taken cla for 2 weeks. i eat healthy anyway, i cut any form of sweet, i cant at potatoes/whit bread/white pasta as they give me migraine so i eat alot of salad and a lot of brown bread. i snack on humus usually wit celery, ill eat nuts/yogurts as well. anyway due to a reaccuring injury i haven't really been able to exercise but its clearing up so illbe back doing very basic exercising soon. So im not really weighing myself much but said i would on friday, so after a week and 5 days roughly i had lost 5lb. I notice my waist coming inward which when I was at my healthiest it never did was usually quite square so im delighted with that. Nothing drastic but def more energy, clothes a bit looser. So im happy with it. I try my best to take the 2 tabletsx 3 times per day. But if its getting late i wont take them. They do give alot of energy so never take close to bed. Thats about it, no crazy reactions, nothing abnormal, nothing crazy. Happy with it.

Transform

Eggs are a great Source of CLA and much cheaper than tablets

jojo86

can i note im also takin it for the green tea extract as I cant drink green tea anymore cos it makes me feel ill but i know whats in green tea does me the world of good....too many haters....

mloc

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Synthetic CLA might even worsen insulin resistance. (ref)

Most studies show that CLA can increase weight loss by a whopping 100g on average after 12 months of taking it..so €24 x 9 for a years supply, that's over €200 to lose less than a quarter pound!

I have to agree here; a colleague of mine worked with CLA for most of her PhD and maintains that the synthetic form not only worsens insulin resistance, but also causes some nasty liver damage.