What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)?
CLA is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in human tissues. CLA can occur in several chemical variants (known as isomers); Bio-CLA is a dietary supplement containing the two isomers of CLA which are known to be the most biologically active within the human body. CLA is an important component of cell membranes. CLA helps maintain healthy immune function, being a precursor of the hormone-like prostanoids, which have an important role in the immune/inflammatory response.
Most CLA in human tissues is of dietary origin, and is obtained mainly from meat and dairy products. CLA levels in food are reduced by modern farming methods and food processing; modern diets with a high fast food content tend to have high levels of potentially harmful saturated fats, and are frequently lacking in beneficial PUFAs.
CLA should not be confused with GLA (gamma linolenic acid), another essential PUFA marketed by Pharma-Nord as Bio-Glandin.