Looking for the best CLA supplement to lose body fat and build lean muscle?
You’re in the right spot!
In this Athletic Muscle guide, I’ll be covering:
- What actually is a Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) supplement?
- Why the heck is safflower oil in every CLA supplement?
- What are the benefits of CLA supplements?
- How much should you take and are there side effects?
- And my top 6 CLA supplements.
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick
| BulkSupplements CLA Softgels
| View on Amazon |
Halal CLA
| NatureWise CLA 1250
| View on Amazon |
Stimulant Free
| Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals CLA 1000
| View on Best Price Nutrition |
| RSP CLA
| View on Amazon |
| NutraBulk CLA
| View on Amazon |
Vegan CLA
| Sports Research CLA
| View on Amazon |
Overall #1 Pick
BulkSupplements
- Best Balance Between Price and Value
- Simple Ingredients In Capsule
- 1,000’s of Testimonials
When considering the different CLA supplements on the market, my #1 pick went to the Bulk Supplements brand CLA.
Why?
Because it just had the best price to value ratio. In my research, generally, ALL of the CLA supplements are manufactured leverage the same exact process. They all technically work and help burn fat because they’re all made out of the same base ingredients. The difference just comes down to marketing (i.e., price and the logo on the packaging).
Specifically, if you’re reading the million variations of CLA supplements on the market and trying to decipher what the major differences are between each, it really comes down the the “other” stuff they put in their formulation to create the actual capsule for your CLA.
For example, most non-Vegan CLA supplements use cow-based (bovine) gels and thickeners.
BulkSupplements is a well-respected brand of supplements, so many users are brand loyalists. Reviewers said they trusted the company and experienced results from consistently taking the product.
A popular vegan CLA by Sports Nutrition has an 80% formulation that use other non-animal based ingredients like Carrageenan to create the gel capsules. The NatureWise brand uses a halal formulation.
Clean & pure softgels. No fillers.
Lab tested for verification & guaranteed purity
Boosts immune system
Burns fat & increases muscle mass
Increases metabolic rate
Another main difference is how much CLA is actually in each capsule. Most are at around 80%, which is standard. The remaining 20% is usually taken up by the ingredients needed to create the gel capsule.
The NutraBulk CLA actually added avocado and olive oil to their formulation (1mg of each), which I thought was interesting, but the product appears to be quite new and I am unsure if that will actually do anything for its effectiveness or just be used as a marketing trick.
So again, it comes down to price and how much you like the logo of one brand vs another. That said, keep reading to learn more about CLA in general so you can know exactly what’s going on when you pop these pills.
Top 6 Best CLA Supplements For Fat Loss
Check out our below list for a summary of our results. Keep on reading to learn more about your CLA supplment options!
- BulkSupplements CLA (Top Pick)
- NatureWise CLA (Halal)
- Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals CLA 1000 (Top brand for body builders)
- RSP CLA 1000
- Nutrabulk CLA
- Sports Research (Vegan)
If you’re trying to lose body fat and build lean muscle, there is a range of products on the market promising just that.
One of those products is CLA, a supplement geared specifically toward fat burning and weight loss.
Supplements, especially one formally known as “conjugate linoleic acid,” can be confusing, so we’ve created a CLA primer for you, answering everything from how CLA works and what you can expect from taking the supplement.
Read Also: What are the best hand grips for Crossfit?
What is a CLA Supplement?
CLA, also known as conjugated linoleic acid, is a naturally occurring omega-6 fatty acid usually synthesized in a lab out of safflower oil. Brands generally prefer Safflower Oil to make CLA due to the high yield and efficiency in the manufacturing process (i.e., getting the most CLA from the source materials).
It is considered “good fat” and usually present in beef and dairy products, but in very small amounts.
CLA is also a trans fat, which while trans fats are typically branded as “bad fats,” CLA is actually used as a weight-loss supplement when combined with diet and exercise.
The dietary supplement works by helping the body convert food more efficiently into energy.
More scientifically, CLA helps stop Liloprotein lipase (LPL), which is an enzyme that breaks down fat and stores it in your body. Because CLA blocks LPL, your body stores less fat.
What are the Benefits of CLA?
The most well-known and most used benefit of CLA is weight loss.
As with most studies, there is conflicting evidence about just how successful CLA is at cutting body fat.
Read Also: What are the best thermogenic pre-workout?
However, more and more studies have shown that CLA, even though it is classified as a fat, will lead to overall body fat loss.
Another study showed that 4.2 grams of CLA per day in 53 healthy individuals showed a 3.8 percent decrease in body fat as compared to a group of people not taking CLA.
But that’s not the only benefit of CLA, according to further studies. Those studies showed that CLA:
- Increased muscle strength
- Boosted endurance
- Lowered breast cancer rates
- Lowered prostate and colon cancer rates
- Improved immune system
- Decrease in cardiovascular disease
- Decrease in type 2 diabetes
- Decrease in osteoporosis
- Decrease in allergies
Will you see all these benefits? Again, studies are mixed, but most experts agree that CLA is at best, a weight loss supplement.
How Much CLA Should You Take Daily?
We know that CLA is found in dairy and beef, but because the amount in those products is relatively small, you’d have to consume 2 pounds of beef, a pound of cheese and 100 ounces of milk every day to see weight loss benefits.
That’s a lot of beef and dairy, so instead, you’ll want to aim for about 3 to 3.4 grams of CLA daily.
Most of the studies showed that 3.4 grams of CLA was the best amount.
It’s also suggested to take CLA supplements before or after meals to prevent an upset stomach
(We’ll get to side effects down below).
Some people have reported benefits in just a few weeks, but most suggested any noticeable effects could take between six to 12 weeks.
Are There Side Effects With CLA?
Some users have said that side effects of CLA included nausea and upset stomach, which is why the supplement is best paired with a meal or protein.
However, large doses of CLA have shown an increased accumulation of fat in the liver, which could lead to diabetes.
Also with large doses, studies have reported that, in both animals and humans, CLA can increase inflammation, lower HDL cholesterol and cause insulin resistance.
Best CLA Products Reviewed
What you get: 180 soft gels
How much CLA per serving: 1000 mg
Another well-reviewed product is NatureWise CLA, also made of safflower oil. Many reviewers saw significant results with NatureWise, saying it boosted their energy levels and curbed their appetites.
Also, many said there was no after taste with the supplement. That said, it made my top list due to the amount of testimonials it had.
Pros
Cons
What you get: 90 soft gels
How much CLA per serving: 1000 mg
Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals CLA blend is a stimulant free supplement for those focused on burning fat while pairing it with a strict workout regimen.
The key benefit of this product is actually the brand itself. Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals produces various supplements for the serious weight trainers and body builders. They have several products and usually they recommend to pair specific products for the maximum benefits.
If you are one of those few that is close to a clean six pack and need the final push, then this product might be the best fit for you. Note that their CLA blend is proprietary, however, they are able to get away with it because of the number of products they produce and their reputation in the industry for efficient supplements.
This is the highest rated CLA on Best Price Nutrition website. Check it out if you are looking for a serious CLA blend.
Pros
Cons
What you get: 180 soft gels
How much CLA per serving: 1000 mg
RSP Nutrition’s version of a CLA supplement is also made in the USA from a blend of safflower.
Another affordable option, reviewers noted that the gels are easy on the stomach and produced results. Many even said they noticed a hike in energy and boost their immune system.
Pros
Cons
What you get: 500 soft gels
How much CLA per serving: 2000 mg
Mode nutrition CLA is made in the USA from a blend of safflower, which boasts high levels of CLA.
Surprisingly, Nutrabulk CLA opted to include avocado and olive oils in their formulation “for better absorption” according to their listing with 1mg of each. Honestly, I think this is just a marketing angle
This is an affordable option for a CLA product and most reviewers say when combined with diet and exercise, they see a marked difference in their weight.
- Improve Overall Muscle and Body Tone
- Helps Develops Lean Muscle Mass, Trim Excess Weight
- Soft gel formulation for optimal absorption
- Aids in trimming adipose fatty tissue
Pros
Cons
Sports Nutrition CLA
- 300 soft gels
- 1589 mg CLA per serving
- Vegan made from safflower oil
What you get: 180 soft gels
How much CLA per serving: 1000 mg
This is the only CLA I could find to claim they were 100% vegan, which was interesting. The safflower oil used is already vegan, but the gel the capsules are manufactured in are generally not vegan. Sports nutrition opted to go with a different manufacturing process to create these gel capsules in a way that was Vegan friendly.
This is what you see other ingredients like Carrageenan or Starch meant to give the capsule its shape so you can eat it! Other manufacturers use non-vegan versions of these ingredients.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: BulkSupplements CLA
If you’re looking to add a supplement to help with weight loss, CLA might be a good choice to try.
In controlled doses, the risks are few and the benefits could pay off.
I wouldn’t choose CLA if you’re solely focused on boosting muscle strength and endurance.
Most experts and users agree that CLA is best for weight loss in conjunction with diet and exercise.
And at least you don’t have to eat a pound of cheese a day to see the benefits.
