CLA supplements study?

VitaBella · 03-14-2003, 06:53 PM

Here's an article that I found in my school newspaper today. If you read through it (sorry, I thought it was interesting and didn't want to cut any out), there is a mention of using CLA supplements (a type of fatty acid) to help in weight loss for Type II diabetics. Anyone ever heard of this and if so, are you taking a supplement or getting this from your diet?

Eat your veggies

Eating healthy food does more than just make Mom happy; it could prevent cancer

By Trevor Knoblich

For years scientists claimed healthy eating can prevent specific chronic diseases. Now, a team of researchers in the human nutrition department at Ohio State are discovering why.

The team is learning that common foods such as grapes, oats, dairy products and tomatoes contain more than essential nutrients; they also may be capable of preventing heart disease, cancer, arthritis or Type II diabetes.

"Your grandparents, your great-grandparents said, 'Eat all your fruits and vegetables,' " said Minnie Holmes-McNary, associate professor of human nutrition. "They knew that it kept you healthy, but they didn't know how."

Termed "functional foods," these healthy dietary staples provide useful compounds for inhibiting disease.

"Basically, it's just a food that has an added benefit over traditional vitamins and minerals," said Kim DeDino, a graduate student and dietetic intern.

DeDino, along with a team of interns, cited tomatoes as an example of a functional food. Tomatoes contain vitamin C, potassium and fiber -- nutrients required by the human body. But they also contain the non-essential phytochemical lycopene, which can effectively reduce prostate cancer.

Though there is some hope functional foods may contain clues on managing the progression of certain diseases, research at OSU focuses on their preventative properties.

Holmes-McNary studies red grapes as a natural source for a cancer-inhibiting agent called trans-resveratrol. Studies have shown trans-resveratrol can fight several types of cancer -- including breast, colon and liver cancer -- as well as arthritis.

Holmes-McNary and her team worked to understand why this happens. Their research indicates that resveratrol limits a transcription process in cancer cells. In other words, the compound stops cancer gene expression.

"We were able to show resveratrol could inhibit the transcription process," Holmes-McNary said. "It's exciting to have a cellular target we can see changes in."

She finds the properties of red grapes so beneficial, she keeps a supply at her desk.

Maureen Geraghty, a doctoral student at OSU and a licensed dietitian, emphasized that although functional foods have preventative properties, they do not serve as cures to afflictions.

"It gives you a benefit to protect from a chronic disease like heart disease or cancer," Geraghty said.

Another associate professor, Martha Belury, studies dietary fatty acids as a possible preventative for Type II diabetes, the most common form of the disease. One of her primary research topics is conjugated linoleic acid, which has multiple beneficial properties.

"People often mistakenly think that all dietary fat is bad," Belury said. "In fact, a few types of fat are required for growth and maintenance of your tissues."

Other fatty acids have additional benefits.

Humans manufacture very little quantities of CLA, and thus require more from an outside source. These sources include beef, lamb and dairy products.

Belury explores how CLAs affect the signaling of insulin sensitivity. This may allow a diabetic more efficient use of the insulin in their bodies. CLAs could also affect fat and glucose metabolism in the liver. One of her studies, conducted over an eight-week period, showed that people with Type II diabetes who consumed CLAs as a dietary supplement had significantly reduced body weight in comparison to subjects given a placebo, with no apparent adverse effects.

Though this might suggest images of a future where a few pills could give the body its daily needs, Belury agrees with her colleagues: Dietary sources are probably healthiest.

"What you miss in a supplement is all the other good things in food," Belury said. "Plus, we all know that taste is an important part of why we all choose the foods we do."

Dietitians will soon be able to recommend a balanced diet that not only provides all the essential nutrients, but additional benefits such as prevention of some chronic diseases.

"It's much more than just interest, although that's the fun part of science," Belury said. "It's getting to that level of thinking, 'Wow, you can make a difference.' "

Belury and Holmes-McNary also said Ohio State is unusual because the school has all the resources necessary to build a full research program. Various departments can test functional foods from the cellular level through laboratory research and eventually clinical trials.

cystermoon · 03-16-2003, 12:52 PM

Quote:

She finds the properties of red grapes so beneficial, she keeps a supply at her desk.

I guess we should all get a bunch of red grapes and keep a supply at our desks

Thanks for the article, Jen!

VitaBella · 03-16-2003, 02:16 PM

Lol...yes, I think I might just start carrying red grapes with me wherever I go.

Hey, you never know...

Bethany · 03-22-2003, 11:24 AM

Wow I am taking this as a sign....

I was just talking to my mom last night, & worrying b/c although I am not diabetic (yet) I do have severe IR --- & I just found out I am pg.
I am VERY worried about the effects of the excess insulin on the fetus, yet I am also afraid to stay on Metformin b/c of the potential risks to the fetus.
Anyways, all this is to say that my mom started telling me about reading about CLA in some health newsletter, & that is helps to force the blood sugar into the cells. She was telling me I should get some.
The beauty of it is that CLA's a fat already present in the food we eat, so it's not like taking some potentially dangerous herb!! Well well I guess mom's really do know best.
I think I'm gonna give it a try. Anyone have any experience with it, or additional info?

Elizabeth

VitaBella · 03-22-2003, 01:44 PM

I haven't really focused on adding CLA into my diet, but I do eat a lot of healthy fatted meats and am hoping that I get enough from the foods that I do eat.

Do you have any specific foods that you're planning to focus on?

I hope things work out for you and your baby! There are tons of studies on Glucophage that show it to be safe during pregnancy and when I get pregnant, I plan to stay on it...each mother has to make a personal decision, though, and I hope you can come to a compromise that you're comfortable with.

If you are looking for studies to read, ask over in the pregnancy forum. I'm sure someone there can point you in the right direction.

Bethany · 03-22-2003, 04:18 PM

Thanks Jen for the encouragement. I have decided to stay on Met *at least* until I see if this pg "takes" or not. My RE & I have compromised on 1 more week. Then I'll have a big decision ahead of me.
I am really confused about the Met issue. My RE says that Met does for sure decr the chance of a m/c but that although there is no concrete proof that says Met causes birth defects, there are also no definitive studies proving otherwise.
He put it to me like this: one one hand I could have a m/c, on the other I could create a baby with a birth defect. That's why he says he is trying to do the most cautious thing for me.
At first dh said to stay on it but now he says he thinks I should go off -- but will leave the final decision up to me.
This is a choice no one should ever have to make!!!

Anyways, I *might* try to self-regulate my insulin by remaining on a low carb diet & taking CLA supplements (this is if I decide to go off Met). My mom bought some CLA 1000 mg capsules for herself at the health food store recently (not b/c she has diabetes or IR, but b/c she read they also help with weight loss -- LOL she is a woman obsessed I tell ya!)

Anyways, if you hear anything interesting re: other treatments for us let me know! I wish you all the best.

Elizabeth