Conjugated linoleic acid: Implications for human health

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is being sold as a panacea that has the capa bility of reducing or eliminating cancer, preventing heart disease, improvi ng immune function, and altering body composition to treat obesity or build lean body mass. Unfortunately, there has been very little published human research on CLA. This review will examine the literature on CLA and discuss the animal research on which the above claims are made. The limited human studies will be presented with an evaluation of the potential uses of CLA f or human health and disease. (C) 2000 Academic Press.