Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation Suppresses the De Novo Lipogenesis in Adults With High Body Fat: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Whether conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) improves body composition by altering de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and related pathways in human remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate CLA-induced changes in DNL-derived fatty acids, and related metabolic pathways via plasma metabolome. Erythrocyte fatty acids of 65 participants with elevated body fat percentage before and after a 12-week CLA intervention were analyzed by gas chromatography. Compared with placebo, CLA supplementation decreased erythrocyte C16:1n7 and C18:1n9 while increased C18:3n3 levels (all p < 0.05). The C16:1n7 change was positively correlated with the triglycerides (TG) change, while the C18:3n3 change was negatively correlated with the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) change. The optimal metabolite panels and metabolite scores predictive of fatty acid changes were identified and generated. TG and visceral adiposity index changes were positively correlated with the metabolite scores of the C16:1n7 change and C18:1n9 change, while metabolite score of the C18:3n3 change was negatively correlated with LDL-C change. Furthermore, DNL fatty acid changes were related to KEGG pathways, including the citrate cycle and butanoate metabolism. In adults with high body fat, 12-week CLA supplementation suppressed DNL activity, associated with changes in plasma and liver lipids, involving energy metabolism pathways. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03915808.