InterACTIVE CLA

With all of the abbreviations and chemical names popping up, it’s hard to tell sometimes what is what and if every chemical you see is actually meant to promote healthy weight loss. However, lately 3 letter abbreviations seem to be reserved for heart healthy omega fatty acids and other good fatty acids that supposedly lower cholesterol.

CLA, which is the poster child ingredient found in products like InterACTIVE CLA, is somewhat of an exception. This particular fatty acid is marketed primarily as a weight loss supplement and even a stimulant free fat burner. Advertisers mention the fact that CLA has also been tested as a heart supplement, but CLA has never achieved the notoriety of omega fatty acids. So why not take this particular ingredient in a completely different direction.

Has CLA Been Proven to Burn Fat?

CLA is a good fatty acid that has been used in the past as a thermogenic fat burner, and there are some advertisers who even cite “scientific proof” that CLA is a fat burner. Titled “Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat in Overweight and Obese Humans”, this study surveyed 70 million individuals.

It would literally be impossible to test 70 million individuals in any study. So all numbers were based on self-reported numbers and speculations. Surveys have been recognized as one study method, but in weight loss studies, a survey does not meet the same standards as a study conducted in a lab with placebo groups, randomized figures, etc. How do you really know if CLA is any better than a placebo, let alone how much dieters are actually losing when taking CLA? You don’t.

Are There Laboratory Studies?

We found one lab study that tested 20 men and 40 women, which is a far more reasonable and realistic number. All were given doses of CLA ranging from 3.2g all the way to 6.8g a day or an olive oil placebo, which ironically is also rich in good fatty acids. Doses were taken 3 times daily, after which researchers report that the test group reported “significant improvements” in energy and wellbeing and slight improvements in lean body mass.

Study participants and researchers have never specified what “significant” means, which is detailed in virtually every other study we have ever seen on any ingredient, effective or not. Effects were largely determined by questionnaires as opposed to objective physical measurements. However, overall, there were no significant changes in body mass in either group, and scientists did note that test subjects saw a slight decrease in HDL or good cholesterol levels as well.

Can InterACTIVE CLA Promote Weight Loss?

Objective facts are hard to come by with CLA, and full details on studies that supposedly prove that CLA burns fat are conveniently missing. Moreover, the one lab study (there should be at least 2 studies to rule out a “fluke”) used doses of 3.2g all the way up to about 6g, which is equal to 3200mg to 6000mg.

We have yet to see a single CLA based diet pill including InterACTIVE CLA that uses even 3200mg. The way we see it, can you say hidden agenda? Even the “strong” studies on CLA are super sketchy. Even if the studies were stronger and more legitimate at first glance, InterACTIVE CLA only has 850mg CLA, which is nowhere near what dieters would need to match clinical studies.