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CLA Supplementation and Aerobic Exercise Lower Blood Triacylglycerol, but Have No Effect on Peak Oxygen Uptake or Cardiorespiratory Fatigue Thresholds

  • Original Article
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Lipids

Abstract

This study examined the effects of 6 weeks of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation and moderate aerobic exercise on peak oxygen uptake (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{ 2}\) peak), the gas exchange threshold (GET), the respiratory compensation point (RCP), and serum concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and glucose in humans. Thirty-four untrained to moderately trained men (mean ± SD; age = 21.5 ± 2.8 years; mass = 77.2 ± 9.5 kg) completed this double-blind, placebo controlled study and were randomly assigned to either a CLA (Clarinol A-80; n = 18) or placebo (PLA; sunflower oil; n = 16) group. Prior to and following 6 weeks of aerobic training (50 % \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{ 2}\) peak for 30 min, twice per week) and supplementation (5.63 g of total CLA isomers [of which 2.67 g was c9, t11 and 2.67 g was t10, c12] or 7.35 g high oleic sunflower oil per day), each participant completed an incremental cycle ergometer test to exhaustion to determine their \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{ 2}\) peak, GET, and RCP and fasted blood draws were performed to measure serum concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and glucose. Serum triacylglycerol concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in the CLA than the PLA group. For \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{ 2}\) peak and glucose, there were group × time interactions (p < 0.05), however, post hoc statistical tests did not reveal any differences (p > 0.05) between the CLA and PLA groups. GET and RCP increased (p < 0.05) from pre- to post-training for both the CLA and PLA groups. Overall, these data suggested that CLA and aerobic exercise may have synergistic, blood triacylglycerol lowering effects, although CLA may be ineffective for enhancing aerobic exercise performance in conjunction with a 6-week aerobic exercise training program in college-age men.

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Abbreviations

ACSM:

American College of Sports Medicine

CLA:

Conjugated linoleic acid

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

GET:

Gas exchange threshold

GLUT4:

Glucose transporter-4

HR:

Heart rate

LDL:

Low density lipoprotein

PLA:

Placebo

PPAR:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor

RCP:

Respiratory compensation point

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

UCP-2:

Uncoupling protein 2

\(\dot{V}{\text{CO}}_{ 2}\) :

Carbon dioxide produced

VLDL:

Very low density lipoprotein

\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{ 2}\) peak:

Peak oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a research grant from Stepan Specialty Products, LLC and in part by the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division with funds provided through the Hatch Act. Neither Stepan Specialty Products, LLC nor the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division had any involvement in the data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The results of the present study do not constitute endorsement of the product by the authors.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 211 Ruth Leverton Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins, Samuel L. Buckner, Kristen C. Cochrane, Haley C. Bergstrom, Jacob A. Goldsmith, Terry J. Housh & Joel T. Cramer

  2. Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, Robinson Center, University of Kansas, Rm. 104D, 1301 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Joseph P. Weir

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  1. Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins
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Correspondence to Joel T. Cramer.

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Jenkins, N.D.M., Buckner, S.L., Cochrane, K.C. et al. CLA Supplementation and Aerobic Exercise Lower Blood Triacylglycerol, but Have No Effect on Peak Oxygen Uptake or Cardiorespiratory Fatigue Thresholds. Lipids 49, 871–880 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-014-3929-0

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