Abstract

Introduction: Some animal studies have suggested that Conjugated Linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation may have therapeutic potential with respect to lipid metabolism, considered to be the most important cardiovascular disease (CVD) related risk factor, associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, results from human studies on risk markers of diabetes are ambiguous. This study was carried out to determine the effect of CLA supplementation (as 50:50 proportions of c9, t11 and t10, c12 CLA isomers) on serum lipid profiles, MDA, apo-B100, systolic and diastolic blood pressures in patients with T2DM. Materials and Methods: The study was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel intervention. Participants were 39 T2DM patients (35 to 50 y, 30>BMI >25) stratified, according to sex, age and BMI into two groups. The intervention group took 3.0 g CLA/d (3×1g, capsules), a 50:50 isomer blend of c9, t11 and t10, c12 CLA) while the control group took soy bean oil as CLA placebo for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, serum lipid profile, MDA, and Apo B were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Results: There were no significant differences in serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, apo-B100 and MDA between the two groups after week 8 nor were any significant differences observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups after intervention. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that short term CLA supplementation (3g/d) may not improve lipid profiles, apo-B100 and MDA concentrations in T2DM patients.