effect of 6 months supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on insulin resistance in overweight and obese

Background: Contradicting results have been published regarding the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on insulin resistance. However, only a few studies have used the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp method, which is considered the standard for measuring insulin resistance. Objective: To evaluate if CLA as a mixture of the main isomers trans-10 cis-12 and cis-9 trans-11 affects the insulin resistance in healthy overweight and obese male and female adults. Design: The main study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with change in body composition as primary end point comprising 118 subjects receiving supplementation with either placebo (olive oil) or CLA (Clarinol) for 6 months. A sub-population of 49 subjects agreed additionally to participate in an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study at baseline and after 6 months of supplementation with study drug. The primary outcome was the change in glucose uptake (M) as measured by the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic glucose clamp method. Secondary outcomes were the correlates between insulin resistance and changes in body composition or blood chemistry parameters. Forty-one subjects completed the clamp test at both time points. Results: The median M of the CLA group was 11.0 mg min-1 lean body mass (lbm)-1 (n=24) at baseline, 10.3 mg min-1 lbm-1 (n=24) after 6 months, and the median difference was +0.21 mg min-1 lbm-1 (n=24). The median M of placebo group was 8.4 mg min-1 lbm-1 at baseline and 9.3 mg min-1 lbm-1 after 6 months and the median difference was -0.22 mg min-1 lbm-1 (n=17). No significant (P