Background: The antiatherogenic effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been demonstrated in animal models. Although there are plenty of in vitro studies that suggest the profitable properties of CLA, the results in humans remain inconsistent.
Objective: In this study, we assessed the impact of CLA supplementation on the levels of atherosclerosis markers - high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA).
Design: Seventy-four adult female subjects with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were enrolled in the double-blind, placebo-controlled nutritional intervention. The study participants were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/day CLA or placebo (sunflower oil) for 12 weeks. In all subjects, we measured hs-CRP and ADMA concentrations by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: No significant differences were found in hs-CRP and ADMA levels before and after nutritional intervention between both groups. The changes in hs-CRP and ADMA concentration values (Δhs-CRP; ΔADMA median [interquartile range]) did not differ between subjects from the placebo (-0.1 [-0.8 to 0.3]; -0.02 [-0.12 to 0.14]) and CLA (0.2 [-0.7 to 0.9]; 0.04 [-0.14 to 0.13]) groups. The incidence of reduction of hs-CRP or ADMA concentration was not different in subjects of the CLA group compared to those of the placebo group (41.9% vs. 50%, relative risk [RR]=0.8387, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.4887-1.4493, p=0.5232 and 61.3% vs. 56.2%, RR=1.0896, 95% CI=0.7200-1.6589, p=0.6847, respectively).
Conclusion: Twelve weeks of CLA supplementation had no effect on selected markers of atherosclerosis in obese and overweight women.
Keywords: asymmetrical dimethylarginine; atherosclerosis; conjugated linoleic acid; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.