What is LeanOmega and How Does it Work?

The LeanOmega is a unique fatty acid derived from linoleic acid (LA), one of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs). As such, it is often referred to as a conditionally essential fatty acid.

Although a naturally-occurring omega-6 fatty acid found in safflower and other oils, in the body, it functions more like an omega-3 fatty acid, such as fish oil, which provides positive support for circulatory and cardiovascular system function.

The LeanOmega is best known as an effective product for reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass resulting in an improved body shape.

The LeanOmega is naturally-occurring, primarily found in beef and dairy fats. Beef, milk and cheese used to be our biggest sources of the LeanOmega. However, today, you consume far less of it in your diet than did your parents or your grandparents.

That's because although the LeanOmega is a naturally-occurring nutrient, our diet has changed over the past 30 years. Today, we consume far less dairy products and those that we do are considerably more no-fat and low-fat varieties than the full-fat predecessors consumed years ago.

Agricultural practices have also changed, affecting natural sources of the LeanOmega. The natural form is produced by cows and other ruminant animals as they feed on natural grasses that are rich in linoleic acid.. The omega is produced in the stomach as they digest the grasses and subsequently absorbed into their meat and milk. Years ago, cows were fed on a steady grass diet. Today, feed practices now emphasize grain over grasses and, thus, restrict the amount of naturally-occurring LeanOmega.

Both these changes have drastically reduced the amount of the LeanOmega that we consume, thus contributing to its deficiency in our modern diet. For example: Most clinical studies recommended a daily dose of 3 to 4 grams. To achieve this level through your diet, you would have to consume more than 3 gallons of ice cream, seven to ten pounds of beef, or more than almost 4 gallons of whole milk per day, every day!

Fortunately, the omega can be produced in the laboratory, through proprietary manufacturing processes that convert pure, natural linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in safflower oil, into the LeanOmega. Despite being derived from an omega-6 fatty acid, in the body the LeanOmega functions more like an omega-3 fatty acid, such as fish oil, which provides positive support for circulatory and cardiovascular system function. The precise mechanism as to how this occurs remains under on-going scientific inquiry.

Researchers have identified two active isomers (components) that enable the LeanOmega to reduce body fat and improve lean muscle mass. These are called the cis-9,trans-11 (c9,t11) and the trans-10, cis-12 (t10,c12). The c9,t11 isomer appears responsible for promoting and improving muscle growth, whereas the c10,t12 isomer appears primarily to prevent lipogenesis (storage of fat in adipose tissue).

Most supplements sold in stores contain a 50/50 mix of both isomers. 1

Many human studies show a tendency for reduced body fat2, particularly abdominal fat, changes in serum total lipids and decreased whole body glucose uptake. Dietary supplementation does not seem to have any adverse effects. The maximum reduction in body fat mass was achieved with a 3.4 g daily dose3.

An Extensively Researched Nutrient

Because the LeanOmega is found in nature, researchers have studied its content in our diets over many years.

Some say study began in 1932 when scientists began investigating the seasonal variations of Vitamin A content in milk. During their research, they noticed that fatty acids and unsaturated fats were absorbed at different rates, but they could not isolate the cause.

Most researchers agree that the LeanOmega was first identified in 1978. Dr. Michael Pariza was studying beef extract at the Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison. His initial interest was to see if a mysterious anti-carcinogen in the beef extract might help prevent cancer. Following an additional nine years of laboratory and animal research, this mysterious extract was eventually identified as CLA, an abbreviation for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Some call this healthy omega by its technical name; most refer to it as the LeanOmega because of what it does best.

Dr. Pariza’s initial research suggested two important possibilities. First, that the LeanOmega helps reduce body fat, and second, that it helps maintain lean muscle tissue. These initial findings attracted great interest, and a surge of scientific studies and research followed.

Over the past 25 years, more than 600 studies have been published illustrating the many ways the LeanOmega may enhance your health.

The health benefits of the LeanOmega on body composition can be explained by its ability to:

Reduce the amount of body fat mass
Increase lean muscle mass

Beneficial Effect of the LeanOmega on Body Composition Ratio

The interplay of fat storage cells (adipocytes) with skeletal muscle causes combustion of fat, thus meeting the body’s energy needs. The LeanOmega has been found to promote this interplay and in this way influences the body’s natural fat burning metabolism.

The LeanOmega intensifies the breakdown of fat molecules in the skeletal muscle cells and reduces the breakdown of muscle tissue to provide energy. Thus, fat is burned at a higher rate, while muscle is preserved, leading to a reduction in fat and an increase in lean muscle mass. The LeanOmega appears to reduce the adipocytes at the same time.

Supplementation with this omega aids in weight control by stimulating fat loss, promoting muscle growth and hindering the growth of fat cells, eventually improving the shape of the body.

Beneficial Effect of the LeanOmega on Body Fat Mass

Several studies have demonstrated that the LeanOmega can positively affect body mass. Dietary supplementation in various animal species reduced body fat mass. In mice, rats, and chickens fed diets containing the LeanOmega for 4-8 weeks, body fat was reduced. Similar findings have also been reported in humans. In non-obese and overweight people, the LeanOmega reduced body fat mass and body weight (see overview of studies). It has been shown that the LeanOmega prevents fat from being deposited into the cells. It appears that this omega reduces the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that is needed for fat cells to take up fats from the bloodstream. The storage of fat is therefore reduced, leading to significant reductions in fat mass.

Beneficial Effect of the LeanOmega on Lean Body Mass

In animal and human studies, diet supplementation with the LeanOmega has been shown to help improve the ratio of lean body mass to fat mass, as well as increase muscle growth. Mice, fed diets supplemented with the LeanOmega, reduced their body fat by 60% and increased their lean body mass by 14%. Similar findings were reported in pigs, rats and chickens. In humans, supplementation increased lean body mass in people who exercised. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that overweight people in an anabolic state (i.e. gaining weight after a weight loss diet) preferentially gain lean mass, thus improving body composition. It has recently been demonstrated that long-term intake of the LeanOmega can also significantly increase lean body mass and improve weight loss in overweight subjects without any diet or exercise intervention.

Mechanisms Underlying the Effect of the LeanOmega on Body Composition

The health benefits of the LeanOmega on body composition appear to be attributed to the mixture of the c-9,t-11 and t-10, c-12 isomers in a 50:50 ratio. The c-9,t-11 and t-10, c-12 isomers are the two active elements in the LeanOmega. Specific health benefits may be explained by the ability to:

Increase the breakdown of fat
Prevent the filling of fat cells
Prevent the differentiation of fat cells
Increase energy expenditure

The way in which the LeanOmega improves body composition is still under investigation, but several mechanisms of action have been proposed. The LeanOmega is known to influence many of the enzymes involved in fat metabolism, e.g. Lipoprotein Lipase, sterol co-A desaturase, fatty acid binding protein. In addition, it has been shown to not only modify fat metabolism, but adipocyte growth and differentiation, therefore modifying the very site of fat storage. Such modification of many processes leading to an overall reduction in fat storage and ultimately fat mass, is thought to be the result of the LeanOmega acting as an agonist to certain nuclear transcription factors which control all of these processes. At the same time, it increases the activity of an enzyme that increases the breakdown of fats. The storage of fat is therefore reduced, fat is burned at a higher rate, and less muscle tissue is broken down for energy during a catabolic state. This leads to a reduction in fat mass and an increase in lean muscle mass.

Study Indicates No Adverse Health Effects

Human studies have shown no adverse effects after supplementation with the LeanOmega containing both the c-9,t-11 and t-10,c-12 isomers in a 50:50 ratio. Long- term studies in overweight (1 year, 3.6g/day) and obese (1 year, 6g/day) subjects have now conclusively confirmed the safety of the mixture of isomers. In these long-term studies, there were no adverse effects reported as a result using LeanOmega intervention. Furthermore, there were no differences between the LeanOmega and placebo groups on parameters such as liver function, and glucose and insulin metabolism. Also, new findings have emerged in the study of obese individuals; this study was designed so that individuals lost 10% body weight on a low calorie diet while taking the LeanOmega. The group using the LeanOmega had significantly less adverse effects, which normally occur due to dieting and weight loss, such as hair loss, irritability and depression, compared with the placebo group.

Supplementations with products that contain pure isomer compositions, or indeed four isomer compositions, have demonstrated negative effects such as increased insulin resistance or no effects at all (no change in body composition compared with placebo). The literature therefore demonstrates that material enriched in the two active isomers c-9,t-11 and t-10,c-12, with a minimum presence of other isomers, is necessary for positive effects.

Based on the totality of published and unpublished information, an expert panel of independent biomedical scientists, qualified by their scientific training and relevant national and international experience, has determined that the LeanOmega (CLA) is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).

References:

Lowery: Poison or Gift? 2001 International THE LEANOMEGA Conference Report.
Thom E, Wadstein J, Gudmundsen O. (Sep-Oct 2001). "Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat in healthy exercising humans.". The Journal of International Medical Research 29 (5): 392-396. PMID 11725826. Retrieved on 27 May 2006.
Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, Thom E, Wadstein J, Gudmundsen O. (December 2000). "Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans.". Journal of Nutrition 130 (12): 2943-2948. PMID 11110851. Retrieved on 27 May 2006.
T. R. Dhiman, L. D. Satter, M. W. Pariza, M. P. Galli, K. Albright, and M. X. Tolosa (May 2000). "Conjugated Linoleic Acid (THE LEANOMEGA) Content of Milk from Cows Offered Diets Rich in Linoleic and Linolenic Acid". Journal of Dairy Science 83 (5): 1016-1027. PMID 10821577. Retrieved on 27 May 2006.
Gaullier J-M, Hasle J, Hoye K, Kristiansen K, Berven G, Blankson H and Gudmonson O. Conjugated linoleic acid (THE LEANOMEGA) supplementation for one-year reduces body fat mass in healthy, overweight humans. Am J of Clin Nutrition, 2004; 79(6):1118–1125.