Differences between Safflower Oil and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Di erences between Sa ower Oil and

Conjugated Linoleic Acid
By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD

Safflower oil and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are popular options in burning
fat and reducing obesity.

Safflower. Image Credit: High Mountain / Shutterstock

A number of empirical studies have shown that both these substances are
effective in facilitating weight loss. There is, however, ongoing debate with
regards to the superiority of each substance. Alongside this issue is the
misconception that safflower oil and CLA are actually the same substances,
despite several differences existing between the two.

Composition and Properties

Safflower is an oilseed crop that is generally used for oil production. It is
prominent in Asia, South America, and North America, but is popular in many
other areas of the world for its numerous applications. Safflower oil is a
polyunsaturated edible oil derived from the safflower plant and contains mild to
moderated comedogenicity. The oil itself is composed of linoleic acid
triglycerides and oleic acids, both of which could be utilized in the natural

P
Saved from URL: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-between-Safflower-Oil-and-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
1
/5
Differences between Safflower Oil and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

reduction of body fat.

On the other hand, CLA is derived from linoleic acid. CLA is a fatty acid
supplement that is composed of cis-9, trans-11, trans-10 and cis-12. The
formulation of CLA is facilitated during the initial biohydrogenation of the
linoleic acid through the bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Unlike safflower oil,
CLA is found in meat and dairy products, particularly in grass-fed animals, and
is thought to have fat burning properties.

Target Areas
Safflower oil has been empiricallyproven to reduce fat, making it a natural oil of
choice among consumers. Empirical studies on the effects of safflower oil on fat
reduction concluded that the oil specifically targets abdominal fat and certain
areas of the body, but not the total body mass as a whole. Subsequent research
found that safflower oil supplements do not affect body mass index (BMI) or
total adipose mass, but rather influence trunk adipose mass (reduction) and
lean mass (increase).

Meanwhile, the effects of CLA have initially been tested on animals, discovering
that the acid could reduce total body mass relative to CLA dosage. Over the
years, researchers sought to examine whether similar effects could be found
when applied to human subjects. For instance, research was conducted which
included one control group (receiving 9 grams of olive oil as a placebo
supplement) and an experimental group (receiving 1.7 to 6.8 grams of CLA) for
a period of 12 weeks.

Results of the study showed that participants from the experimental group
received a significantly higher reduction in body mass in comparison to the
placebo group. It was also discovered that varying dosages could affect body
mass reduction. .CLA dosages greater than 3.4 grams per day rated as the
minimum requirement to significantly reduce body fat within a 12-week period.
Despite these results, no significant changes were recorded in terms of lean
body mass and blood lipids between the control and experimental groups.
Another study found similar results, with BMI found to be reduced as a total
effect of CLA.

These findings suggest that safflower oil and CLA target different areas of the
body in terms of weight reduction. Some studies have tried to integrate both

P
Saved from URL: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-between-Safflower-Oil-and-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
2
/5
Differences between Safflower Oil and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

substances into a singular application and found that such pairing may help
reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus, especially amongst pregnant women.

Other Effects on Health

Both safflower oil and CLA were empirically found to benefit the human body in
other aspects apart from body mass or body fat reduction. However, like their
differing benefits on fat reduction, safflower oil and CLA also target different
physiological and medical concerns.

Safflower oil is thought to be an effective tropical treatment in treating skin

infections or skin concerns involving fatty acid shortage. Apart from this, bone
related disorders, atherosclerosis, and menopause could also be regulated by
safflower oil. At present, researchers recognize that the full potential of
safflower oil as a medical treatment is yet to be discovered. Nevertheless, more
research is being done at present to further specify its medical and healing
properties.

Contemporary experimental models of CLA applications have postulated its

effectivity as a means of treating cardiometabolic diseases and even possibly
cancer. Empirical findings have concluded that CLA has the capacity to modulate
immune function, resynthesize glycogen, and facilitate bone mineralization.
These effects applied in other relevant medical research could pave the way for
more directive treatment practices for various cardiometabolic and lifestyle
diseases.

Sources
A review on effects of conjugated linoleic fatty acid (CLA) upon body
composition and energetic metabolism. Journal of the International Society
of Sports Nutrition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC45740
06/
CLA Community hits back at safflower oil claims: “Science wise, safflower
oil is not a serious alternative to CLA for improved body composition.”
Nutra Ingredients. www.nutraingredients.com/.../CLA-community-hits-ba
ck-at-safflower-oil-claims-Science-wise-safflower-oil-is-not-a-serious-
alternative-to-CLA-for-improved-body-composition
Is safflower oil and CLA the same thing? US Health Journal. www.usheal
thjournal.com/safflower-oil-and-cla/#Safflower_oil_and_CLA

P
Saved from URL: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-between-Safflower-Oil-and-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
3
/5
Differences between Safflower Oil and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Comparison of dietary conjugated linoleic acid with safflower oil on body

composition in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes
mellitus1,2,3,4. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://ww
w.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728639/
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Safflower Oil. International
Journal of Toxicology. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3109/
10915818509078690
A comprehensive characterisation of safflower oil for its potential
applications as a bioactive food ingredient - A review. Trends in Food &
Science Technology. www.biosaline.org/.../...iftikhar_farooq_et_al._2017-
safflower_oil.pdf
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass in Overweight and Obese
Humans. The Journal of Nutrition. https://academic.oup.com/jn/ar
ticle/130/12/2943/4686248
Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Potential Health Benefits as a Functional Food
Ingredient. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology. www.annual
reviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-food-041715-033028

Further Reading
All Linoleic Acid Content

Linoleic Acid - What is Linoleic Acid?

Oils Rich in Linoleic Acid

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2018

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer
by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For

P
Saved from URL: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-between-Safflower-Oil-and-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
4
/5
Differences between Safflower Oil and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals
but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as
well.

P
Saved from URL: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-between-Safflower-Oil-and-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
5
/5