✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
2
Conditional
CLA
Conjugated linoleic acid
Conditionally SafeModerateFatty Acids
RDA
Typical 3–4 g
Target
No worsening
Upper limit
No UL
Products
—
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: L-Carnitine, Green Tea Extract✅ IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards), USP Verified, NSF Contents Certified
⚠ ~0.05 kg/week fat loss — clinically negligible [1]
⚠ t10c12 isomer INCREASES insulin resistance and liver fat [2]
⚠ Food CLA (c9t11, grass-fed dairy) is safe; supplemental CLA (t10c12) is not [1] [2]
⚠ Diabetic patient — CLA worsens insulin resistance [2]
🥗 Food first — build your daily Typical 3–4 g
Check the foods you regularly eat — the bar fills toward your daily target.
Lamb (85 g)60 mg CLA (primarily c9t11)
Whole milk (240 mL)60 mg CLA (primarily c9t11)
Butter (14 g)50 mg CLA (primarily c9t11)
0 mg CLA (primarily c9t11)
Check your regular foods above
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR
Reference range / target
No worsening
When to test
If used despite warnings [2].
Monitor for insulin resistance [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
CLA produces clinically negligible fat loss (~0.05 kg/week) while INCREASING insulin resistance and liver fat (t10c12 isomer). The risk-benefit is poor. Food CLA (grass-fed dairy, c9t11 isomer) is safe. Supplemental CLA (50:50 c9t11:t10c12) has metabolic side effects that outweigh the trivial fat loss [1] [2].
1 Am I deficient?
Not applicable0%

What happens as status declines

Not applicable
Not an essential nutrient [1].

Risk factors

• Not applicable — not an essential nutrient [1]
🧬 How CLA works ▼
Conjugated linoleic acid is a group of linoleic-acid isomers proposed to alter body composition by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase and modulating PPAR signaling and adipocyte metabolism. Human results on fat loss are small and inconsistent, and some isomers may worsen insulin sensitivity.
2 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Avoid — metabolic concerns [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Not appropriate [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: With meals [1].
💊 With food: With food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Diabetes. Metabolic syndrome. Liver disease [2].
3 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['CLA mixed isomers (80%)', 'common', 'Standard supplement. 50:50 c9t11:t10c12. 3.2 g/day [1].']StandardCheck label
['Tonalin/Clarinol', 'common', 'Branded CLA from safflower oil. Most clinical data [1].']StandardCheck label
4 Common questions
Does CLA work for weight loss? ▼
Technically yes, but ~0.05 kg/week is clinically meaningless — that's 2.5 kg/year, less than normal weight fluctuation. At the cost of insulin resistance and liver fat increase. The risk-benefit is poor [1] [2].
Is CLA from food safe? ▼
Natural food CLA (primarily c9t11 from grass-fed dairy/meat) is safe and may even be beneficial. The problem is supplemental CLA which contains the t10c12 isomer linked to metabolic harm [1] [2].
Why does CLA worsen insulin resistance? ▼
The t10c12 isomer reduces adiponectin, increases liver fat, and promotes insulin resistance — the opposite of what you'd want for metabolic health [2].
5 Clinical evidence

Strong

Meta-analysis fat loss: ~0.05 kg/week at 3.2 g/day — clinically negligible [1]. t10c12 isomer increases insulin resistance and liver fat in human trials [2]. HIGH

Moderate

Modest fat loss with lean mass preservation in some trials [1]. Antiatherogenic properties of c9t11 in animal models [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Cancer prevention (promising in animals, no human data) [1]. Immune function [1]. Bone health [1]. Asthma [1]. LOW
6 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Relative

⚠ Diabetes/insulin resistance — some isomers may worsen insulin sensitivity
⚠ Metabolic syndrome/fatty liver — possible adverse metabolic effects
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — avoid

🚩 Red flags

● Diabetic/prediabetic patient — CLA worsens insulin resistance [2]
● Patient expecting meaningful fat loss — 0.05 kg/week [1]
7 Interactions

Drug interactions

Diabetes medications Major
Mechanism: t10c12 isomer worsens insulin resistance. [2]
Effect: Counteracts diabetes medication efficacy. [2]
Action: Avoid CLA in diabetic patients [2].
8 Laboratory monitoring
Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR Primary
Target: No worsening · If used despite warnings [2].
9 Regulatory
United States: GRAS (food additive). Dietary supplement [1].
EFSA: No authorized health claims [1].
CLA vs L-CarnitineCLA vs Green Tea Extract
10 References (2)
[1]Whigham LD, et al. Efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(5):1203-1211. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1203 META-ANALYSIS Accessed: 2026-05-29
[2]Riserus U, et al. Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid causes isomer-dependent oxidative stress and elevated C-reactive protein. Circulation. 2002;106(15):1925-1929. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000033589.15413.48 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
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12 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. CLA — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jun 01]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/cla/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). CLA — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/cla/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: December 2026
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "CLA — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/cla/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG