Obesity Protocol

CLA Fat-Loss Studies
In July 1996, The Life Extension Foundation introduced CLA to its members. At the time of launch, numerous published studies had already detailed this nutrient's anti-cancer effects. What had impressed scientists was the fact that only relatively small amounts of CLA (3-4 grams per day) were required to achieve all of its wonderful effects.

In weight-loss studies, CLA consistently shows an ability to reduce body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass. In one study, mice fed the human equivalent of 3000-4000 mg a day of CLA achieved a 60% reduction in body fat and a 14% increase of lean body mass (Terpstra et al. 2002). Another study conducted at Louisiana State University reported up to an 88% reduction in the body fat of male mice fed CLA--after only 6 weeks (West et al. 1998).

A particularly significant study entitled "Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acids Increase Lean Tissue and Decrease Fat Deposition in Growing Pigs" was reported in the November 1999 issue of The Journal of Nutrition (Ostrowska et al. 1999). The key element of the study was confirmation that CLA is able to decrease fat storage and maintain lean muscle tissue. In this study, researchers used young female pigs to illustrate the effects of combining a relatively small amount of CLA with the normal diet of the pigs. Because pigs have organs and metabolism similar to humans, they are good experimental models of human nutrition. Sixty pigs were randomly placed in one of six dietary treatments; one was the control group that received no CLA. Each other group received one of five different concentrations of CLA added to the feed. The pigs had free access to water and their diet at all times (2 kilograms of food per day).

After only 4 weeks of CLA supplementation, there was significantly less fat and more lean tissue in the groups receiving the CLA. After 8 weeks, the pigs with the highest CLA supplementation showed a 31% loss of body fat and a 5% increase in lean tissue. In addition, at the highest level of CLA supplementation, the back fat depth was reduced by 25%. This study was the first to show the profound effects of CLA supplements on the composition and deposition of body fat, in relation to protein, water, and other tissues of pigs (Ostrowska et al. 1999).

A study in The International Journal of Obesity concluded that CLA reduced abdominal fat among men classified as abdominally obese (Riserus et al. 2001). The study participants taking CLA lost an average of 1.4 cm in waist circumference after only 4 weeks. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial observed 25 men with significant abdominal fat for 4 weeks: 14 received 4.2 grams of CLA per day, while the others received placebo. At the conclusion of the study, there was a significant decrease of abdominal diameter in the CLA group. None of the study participants changed their eating or exercise habits during the trial period (Riserus et al. 2001).

Results of the Riserus et al. (2001) study supported data published in the December 2000 issue of The Journal of Nutrition. That study concluded that CLA reduced body fat and preserved muscle mass among the 60-person study group. Participants lost an average of 6 pounds while taking CLA (Blankson et al. 2000).

CLA is a unique supplement because not only does it guard against serious diseases, but it is also an effective tool for one of the most serious conditions affecting Americans--obesity. As more and more Americans join the ranks of the overweight, millions more start diets that are usually destined to fail.

Preventing Cancer While Losing Weight
CLA is not just for fat loss. Studies show CLA may also help protect against many diseases including atherosclerosis and cancer.

In an article appearing in The Journal of Nutrition, significant cancer-preventing properties were shown when CLA was added to the diet (Ip et al. 1999a). The study revealed that CLA was a "potent cancer preventative agent in animal models." Specifically, it was determined that feeding CLA to female rats while they were young and still developing conferred life-long protection from breast cancer. This preventive action was achieved by adding only enough CLA to equal 0.8% of the animal's total diet. This compares favorably with Life Extension's recommendation of 3000-4000 mg daily, which is approximately 1% of an average human's diet (Ip et al. 1999a).

In an earlier study in Experimental Cell Research, CLA was shown to prevent mammary cancer in rats if given before the onset of puberty (Ip et al. 1999b). Even more important, if CLA was ingested during the time of the "promotion" phase of cancer development, the rats were conferred substantial protection from further developing breast cancer. Another significant finding was that CLA appeared to actually inhibit the growth of normal mammary epithelial cell organoids and induced apoptosis or cell death in some of those same cells. The researchers concluded that this led to a reduction in the density of the developing mammary glands in rats and, therefore, the incidence of breast cancer was reduced (Ip et al. 1999b).

In the June 1999 issue of the journal Carcinogenesis, CLA was shown to reduce the size of breast tissue in the rat and thereby reduce the incidence of carcinogenesis (Banni et al. 1999). In another study reported in Anticancer Research, it was shown that CLA is also able to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer (Cesano et al. 1998). As reported in the article, CLA can be considered to be a powerful prostate cancer preventive as well as a partial treatment.

CLA may work via a similar mechanism to anti-diabetic drugs such as Avandia and Actos to not only enhance insulin sensitivity, but to also protect against cancer. A report in the journal Medical Hypothesis pointed out that a number of human cancer cell lines express the PPARgamma transcription factor, and agonists for PPARgamma can promote apoptosis in these cell lines and impede their clonal expansion both in vitro and in vivo. CLA can activate PPARgamma in rat adipocytes, possibly explaining the anti-diabetic effects of CLA in Zucker fatty rats. The report concluded by stating: "It is thus reasonable to suspect that a portion of CLA's broad spectrum anticarcinogenic activity is mediated by PPARgamma activation in susceptible tumors" (McCarty 2000). Note: The term "PPARgamma" is an acronym for "peroxisome proliferator activator-receptors-gamma." A PPARgamma agonist such as Avandia, Actos, or CLA activates the PPARgamma receptor. This class of drug is being investigated as a potential adjuvant therapy against certain types of cancer.

Another finding that provides insight into the biochemical action of CLA is its ability to suppress arachidonic acid. Since arachidonic acid can produce inflammatory compounds that can aid cancer proliferation, this may be yet another explanation for the anti-cancer effects of CLA. The suggested amount required to obtain the overall cancer-preventing effects is only 3000-4000 mg a day.

Clearly, we can expect more research and more interest in this fascinating supplement that has already been proven to be a formidable foe against cancer and to be able to promote weight loss with the development of lean tissue.

How CLA Induces Fat Loss
The May 2002 issue of The Journal of Nutrition described a study conducted to ascertain the effects of CLA on calorie burning and fat storage in mice (Terpstra et al. 2002). CLA was shown to lower the amount of ingested food that was stored as body fat. CLA also increased the amount of fat excreted in the feces. Additionally, the study found that CLA induced a reduction in body fat mass on mice fed either a calorie-restricted or normal diet. The scientists defined the term "energy expenditure" as being the amount of food ingested minus the food retained in the body carcass and in the feces. CLA-fed mice showed a 74% increase in energy expenditure. The scientists thus concluded that the lower amount of ingested food stored on the body carcass was accounted for by this significant increase in energy expenditure (Terpstra et al. 2002).

This new finding corroborates a study conducted at Louisiana State University in which feeding male mice a CLA-enriched diet for 6 weeks resulted in 43%-88% lower body fat, especially in regard to abdominal fat. This occurred even if the mice were fed a high-fat diet. The effect was partly due to reduced calorie intake by CLA-supplemented mice and partly to a shift in their metabolism, including a higher metabolic rate (West et al. 1998).

In another study, performed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, mice supplemented with only 0.5% of CLA showed up to 60% lower body fat and up to 14% increased lean body mass compared to controls. The researchers discovered that CLA-fed animals showed greater activity of enzymes involved in the delivery of fatty acids to the muscle cells and the utilization of fat for energy, while the enzymes facilitating fat deposition were inhibited (Terpstra et al. 2002).

The Safety of CLA
In a study conducted by the Nutrition Department of Kraft Foods, male rats were fed a diet of 1.5% CLA, which is 50 times higher than the estimated upper-range human intake. The animals were examined weekly for any signs of toxicity; no toxicity was found. After the end of the 36-week study, the animals were sacrificed and autopsied. Again, no abnormal pathology was found. The study confirmed that CLA supplementation is safe even at high doses. Nevertheless, high doses are not necessary for obtaining the benefits of CLA (Scimeca 1998).

A dose of three to four 1000-mg capsules of 76% CLA, taken in the morning or before lunch on an empty stomach, may be an effective part of an overall weight-loss program. Research studies indicate that it usually takes about 3 weeks before body fat loss occurs in response to CLA supplementation.

How Guarana Induces Fat Loss

Clinical Studies
Guarana is an herb that contains a form of caffeine called guaranine which is 2.5 times stronger than the caffeine found in coffee, tea, and soft drinks. What makes guaranine unique from the caffeine found in beverages is its slower release. That is because the guarana seed is fatty (even in powder form) and is not readily water-soluble. Therefore, the body does not quickly absorb it.

Since guaranine is released slowly, over a period as long as 6 hours, the energy boost that is experienced from guarana is not like that of coffee (a sudden rush and quick drop-off). Rather, the energy boost continues to escalate over hours.

While caffeine from beverages provides a short-lived energy burst that overheats and excites the body, guaranine has a cooling action that revitalizes and relaxes. This is because guarana contains other components that modify the activity of guaranine. The end result is more beneficial to the body than tea or coffee.

Guarana aids in a temporary, natural increase in body temperature and metabolic thermogenesis through nutritional stimulation of the body's beta-receptor pathway, which can induce the breakdown and release of stored body fat and thereby allow stored fats to be turned into energy. Thermogenesis refers to the body's production of heat. Heat production is a normal part of metabolic processes and can be enhanced by certain nutritional substances. Thermogenesis is both a source of heat and, when stimulated through appropriate dietary supplementation, a mechanism to increase metabolic rate. Stored body fat, if released and available for use, can provide the fuel for this increased metabolic rate.

Other active constituents of guarana are theobromine and theophylline, which are called xanthines (a class of thermogenic substances found in coffee, tea, and certain beans). They have some effect on increasing metabolic rate, suppressing appetite, and enhancing both physical and mental performance. They also act as muscle relaxants and possess diuretic properties.

Interestingly, caffeine accelerates the effectiveness of CLA, thus making CLA a more potent fat burner. Guarana has been shown to stimulate the migration of lipids so fat can be burned as energy. It is also an appetite suppressant.

Guarana also increases mental alertness, fights fatigue, and increases stamina and physical endurance. Guarana is taken daily as a health tonic by millions of Brazilians. In the United States, guarana holds GRAS-status (Generally Regarded as Safe). In 1989 a patent was filed on a guarana seed extract that was capable of inhibiting platelet aggregation in mammals. The patent described guarana's ability to prevent the formation of blood clots and to help in the breakdown of clots that had already been formed. Clinical evidence was presented in conjunction with the patent in 1989 and again in 1991 by a Brazilian research group demonstrating these anti-aggregation properties (Bydlowski et al. 1991).

Clinical Studies on Guarana
In a study reported in The Journal of Human Nutrition Diet), guarana extract induced weight loss for over 45 days in overweight patients taking a mixed herbal preparation containing yerbemate, guarana, and damiana (Andersen et al. 2001). Body weight reductions were 11.22 pounds in the guarana group compared to less than 1 pound in the group receiving placebo for 45 days.

Guarana extract and its fractions decreased platelet aggregation up to 37% of control values and decreased platelet thromboxane formation from arachidonic acid up to 78% of control values (Bydlowski et al. 1991). When platelets hyperaggregate and/or when excess thromboxane formation occurs, this can initiate an arterial blood clot, which results in a heart attack or ischemic stroke.

In a 1997 study in rats, guarana increased the physical activity of the rats as well as increased physical endurance under stress and increased memory with single doses as well as with chronic doses. Interestingly enough, this study revealed that whole guarana seed extract performed better and more effectively than a comparable dosage of caffeine or ginseng extract (Espinola et al. 1997).

Another Brazilian research group has studied the apparent effect of guarana to increase memory, which is thought to be linked to the essential oils found in the seed (Galduroz et al. 1996). Its antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Salmonella have been documented as well (da Fonseca et al. 1994).

A 1998 toxicology study with animals has shown that guarana is nontoxic at even high dosages of up to 2 grams/kilogram of body weight. This same study demonstrated the antioxidant properties of guarana, saying: "Guarana showed an antioxidant effect because, even at low concentrations (1.2 microg/mL), it inhibited the process of lipid peroxidation" (Mattei et al. 1998).

A major advantage to taking guarana in an oil base capsule is its relatively slow release into the body. In a study reported in the journal Pharmacology Biochemical Behavior in November 1997, a comparison was made of the absorption of caffeine from coffee, cola, or capsules. Based on saliva caffeine concentrations, the absorption from capsules was about 40% slower than that of coffee or colas. These capsules were not oil-based, yet the rate of caffeine absorption was still significantly slower than coffee or cola (Liguori et al. 1997).

CLA + Guarana

The effect of CLA on blocking excess absorption of serum glucose and fatty acids into adipocytes (fat cells) is remarkable. CLA induces a reduction in the size of adipocytes. One of the reasons that people gain weight as they age is that their adipocytes literally become fatter.

Another cause of increased body fat storage is the proliferation of adipoctyes. Whereas CLA helps block the absorption of fat and sugar into adipocytes, CLA does not reduce the actual number of adipocytes present. Guarana has been shown to specifically reduce the number of adipocytes. When CLA was combined with guarana, there was a 50% reduction in adipocyte number (FASEB 2002).

In response to the FASEB (2002) study showing an added benefit when CLA is combined with guarana, a supplement has been formulated that contains potencies of CLA and guarana that have demonstrated fat-loss effects in published studies (available from Life Extension Foundation). CLA is also available by itself as a supplement for those who are overly sensitive to caffeine.

Whereas many published studies document the fat-reducing effects of CLA, the fact that CLA may protect against cancer, vascular disease, and Type II diabetes makes it a preferred supplement for health-conscious people to use daily.

The "Friendly" FATS

Essential Fatty Acids
There are fats that are healthy and fats that are dangerous. Hydrogenated fats are made by bubbling hydrogen gas with nickel as a catalyst to make the oil more solid at room temperature. This is how margarine and Crisco? are made. During the process, many of the chemical bonds are broken and reformed into less healthy trans configurations.

Healthy fats have a distinct flavor and unfortunately tend to become rancid after a few weeks, even with refrigeration. The healthiest oils are cold-pressed to avoid the chemical changes that occur during heating. Healthy oils are made from olives, flax seed, borage seeds, and even hemp. Each has its own unique flavor.

Not long ago, low-fat diet gurus were trying to terrorize people into further reducing all fat consumption. Now that we have witnessed the epidemic of obesity that followed, we know better. Healthy fats help keep us slender! They also help protect against atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and various other degenerative disorders.

Through their impact on important metabolic enzymes, healthy fats increase the synthesis of beneficial prostaglandins E1 and E3 while decreasing the levels of inflammatory prostaglandin E2; they also modify cell membrane composition and fluidity. Hence, improved blood flow and tissue oxygenation, higher metabolic rate, improved insulin sensitivity, immune enhancement, more muscle and bone formation, better brain function, and faster nerve impulse conductance result, to mention just a few of the major benefits.

Thus, while in the 1970s and 1980s dietary fat was demonized and presented as being a problem, we are beginning to see various kinds of healthy fat as part of the solution.

Obesity Protocol Pg (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease