CLA are the initials for conjugated linoleic acid. CLA is a naturally occurring fat found in milk fat and the meat from ruminants such as cows and sheep. It is a natural variant of linoleic acid, an essential fat. There is some concern that CLA intake in humans is going down because of the increase in fat-free dairy foods (which contain less CLA). It is a potent anticarcinogen and helps to enhance the immune system. It has been well tested in animals where it has been shown to afford cancer protection and to suppress arteriosclerosis. One study showed that when animals are fed diets rich in CLA they ate less and lost muscle and body fat. However, the results of this study and the other animal CLA studies do not translate to humans. In fact, very little research on CLA has been done on humans. Before more research has been done on humans, it is too early to tell if taking concentrated CLA is safe or beneficial to health.