CLA News

Report delivers insights on health promoting dairy and beef component

Red Deer, Alta., June 19, 2007: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a natural component of dairy and beef products that has shown considerable potential to benefit human health and open new marketing opportunities.

Now, a report from a leading conference on CLA offers insight on this potential from leading scientists and industry experts. The Report on CLA Summit 2007 is a collection of articles that deliver highlights from presentations at the recent CLA Summit 2007 conference, hosted in Kananaskis, Alta., by the CLA Network.

The CLA Network is a collaborative team that includes representatives from many areas of expertise such as research, food industry, health and communications. The Report on CLA Summit 2007 is available at www.CLAnetwork.com.

"The CLA Summit 2007 conference provided a one-stop look at the latest science and opportunities surrounding CLA," says Vince Ohama, CLA Network manager. "The developments and perspectives from this conference are captured in the Report on CLA Summit 2007. The report provides everyone from livestock producers to industry players and consumers with a window on the benefits and future promise of this remarkable dairy and beef component."

Part one of the two-part report – now available on the web site – includes articles on each of the keynote speaker presentations, with topics covering everything from the latest science on CLA health potential to benefits for improving the health image of dairy and beef products. Part two of the report, which includes articles on presentations by leaders of various components of the CLA Network, will be made available next month.

The CLA Summit 2007 featured a line-up of keynote speakers, representing a variety of scientific and industry perspectives.

Helen Bishop MacDonald, nutritionist and author, spoke on "Chewing the Cud about Ruminant Fat." She reviewed recent evidence and offered perspective on how CLA can play a key role in improving perceptions of animal fat.

CLA is an example that natural dairy and beef fats have been unfairly attacked as unhealthy when in fact they're often health promoting, says Bishop MacDonald. "CLA can play a major role in reshaping the negative image of animal fats. It's a great example that many of these fats are not harmful but in fact are healthful."

Dr. Corey Scott of Lipid Nutrition B.V. presented on new studies of CLA and fat loss. "There is a growing body of evidence indicating that CLA can play a role in decreasing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass," says Scott.

Dr. Martha Belury from the Ohio State University spoke on the fat-fighting power of CLA. Understanding the mechanisms and implications of how CLA reduces fat is key to harvesting benefits for humans, says Belury.

Dr. Roger McLeod of Dalhousie University discussed insights into CLA effects on heart disease and obesity.