Conjugated linoleic acid: (CLA) A supplement that has been promoted as an aid to weight loss and muscle building and as a deterrent to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. CLA is an unsaturated fatty acid in the milk and meat of cows, sheep and goats. CLA occurs in about 20 different chemical configurations called isomers, each tending to have different effects on the body. Knowledge of the benefits and risks of CLA is generally considered to be too rudimentary to warrant its use as a dietary supplement.
