✓ 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
📰Read the full CLA evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
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]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Obtained in small amounts from dairy and beef; there is no established daily dietary target.
🔬 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 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].
2 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
3 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].
4 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
5 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]
6 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].
7 Regulatory
United States: GRAS (food additive). Dietary supplement [1].
EFSA: No authorized health claims [1].
CLA vs L-CarnitineCLA vs Green Tea Extract
8 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. CLA — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 31]. 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
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: March 2027
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
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