Home Ingredients Clarinol® (Conjugated Linoleic Acid — Stepan Lipid Nutrition)
Weight ManagementMetabolic Health

Clarinol® (Conjugated Linoleic Acid — Stepan Lipid Nutrition)

Evidence Level
Moderate
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Clarinol® is a branded conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid derived from safflower oil and standardized to the two active isomers (c9,t11 and t10,c12). Made by Stepan Lipid Nutrition, CLA is studied as a body-composition aid that may modestly reduce body fat while preserving lean mass, with effects that are real but generally small.

Studied Dose 3 to 4 grams per day of CLA isomers.
Active Compound Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a roughly equal mix of the c9,t11 and t10,c12 isomers from safflower oil.

Benefits

Body fat and composition

Meta-analyses of CLA trials show a modest reduction in body fat mass over weeks to months, with the t10,c12 isomer driving most of the fat-mass effect.

Supported by Trial 1

Lean-mass preservation

CLA is sometimes marketed for supporting lean body mass during fat loss, but the human evidence for a lean-mass benefit is weak and inconsistent across trials.

Supported by Trial 1

Lipids and blood pressure — no significant effect

The cited meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials found no significant effect of CLA on blood lipid profile or blood pressure, and the overall effect on body weight is small.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Lipid metabolism shift

The t10,c12 isomer reduces the activity of enzymes that store fat and may increase fat oxidation, lowering fat accumulation in fat cells.

2

Energy partitioning

CLA appears to nudge how the body partitions energy, favoring lean tissue over fat storage, although effect sizes are modest.

Clinical trials

1
CLA Supplementation and Body Composition — Meta-Analysis
PubMed

Systematic review and meta-analysis of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on cardiovascular and body-composition outcomes. (Esmaeilnejad et al. 2024, British Journal of Nutrition)

Pooled adult trials.

CLA produced a modest reduction in body fat across trials, confirming a small but measurable body-composition effect; impact on body weight overall was limited.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are the most common.
Mild stomach upset, nausea, or loose stools can occur, especially at higher doses.
Splitting the dose with meals improves tolerance. Some research suggests CLA — particularly the t10,c12 isomer — may worsen insulin sensitivity, lower HDL (good) cholesterol, and increase markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in some people; rare liver-related case reports have been noted. People with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or diabetes should be cautious and monitor with their doctor.

Important Drug interactions

Blood thinners — theoretical additive effect; monitor.
Diabetes medication — CLA may affect insulin sensitivity; watch blood sugar.
Tell your doctor if you have metabolic syndrome or take lipid medication.

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Frequently asked questions about Clarinol® (Conjugated Linoleic Acid — Stepan Lipid Nutrition)

What is Clarinol?

Clarinol® is a branded conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid derived from safflower oil and standardized to the two active isomers (c9,t11 and t10,c12). Made by Stepan Lipid Nutrition, CLA is studied as a body-composition aid that may modestly reduce body fat while preserving lean mass, with effects that are rea…

What is Clarinol used for?

Clarinol is researched primarily for Weight Management and Metabolic Health. Meta-analyses of CLA trials show a modest reduction in body fat mass over weeks to months, with the t10,c12 isomer driving most of the fat-mass effect.

What is the recommended dosage of Clarinol?

The clinically studied dose is 3 to 4 grams per day of CLA isomers. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Clarinol safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Clarinol is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are the most common. Mild stomach upset, nausea, or loose stools can occur, especially at higher doses. It may also interact with some medications. Clarinol is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Clarinol interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood thinners — theoretical additive effect; monitor. Diabetes medication — CLA may affect insulin sensitivity; watch blood sugar. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Clarinol?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Clarinol as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Esmaeilnejad M, Rasaei N, Goudarzi K, et al. The effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors and body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2024;132(7):919-934..PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis showing modest body-fat reduction.