Some studies also show that it can help prevent heart disease by discharging body fat. CLA works to reduce fat composition in two ways. Some of the fat reduction is accomplished by the regulation of the metabolism through the immune system, said Pariza. In addition, by studying fat cells from rats fed CLA, Pariza and his colleagues found that CLA regulates several enzymes within fat cells. The enzymes induce lipolysis, discharging fat.
Skeletal muscle can then burn the fat transported through blood.
A survey of milk from Canadian creameries uncovered a similar range of CLA levels. This wide variation in cows' CLA levels results partly from differences in diet and dairy-farm management. Evidence indicates that when cows are allowed to graze in pastures, their milk contains more CLA than when they are fed grain concentrates. This probably explains the finding of one study that in summer cow's milk contained double the CLA it contained in winter. However, CLA is found almost exclusively in animal products and is among the most potent of all naturally occurring anti-carcinogens.