CONJUGATED LINOLEIC-ACID IS A GROWTH-FACTOR FOR RATS AS SHOWN BY ENHANCED WEIGHT-GAIN IMPROVED FEED-EFFICIENCY

We studied the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on rat develop ment and growth. Primigravid female Fischer rats were fed control or C LA-supplemented (0.25% or 0.5% CLA) diets during gestation and/or lact ation. Conjugated linoleic acid was incorporated into milk fat and tis sue lipids proportional to the level of CLA fed and the duration of CL A feeding. Conjugated linoleic acid was incorporated into fetal and ne onatal tissues; it did not affect litter size nor induce apparent abno rmalities. To the contrary, feeding CLA to the dams during gestation a nd lactation improved the postnatal body weight gain of pups (P < 0.05 ), measured on d 10 of lactation. Pups that continued to receive the C LA-supplemented diet after weaning had significantly greater body weig ht gain and improved feed efficiency relative to control animals (P < 0.05).