Is this vegan-friendly CLA product worth the hype?
Sports Research is probably most well-known for its Sweet Sweat product. But that’s not all that they have to offer. They’ve also released a variety of other fitness-related supplements for health-conscious customers.
I know this brand to deliver quality products and great customer service. All of their offerings come with money-back guarantees to ensure their buyer’s satisfaction. And one of their latest products, Max Potency CLA, is currently getting online rave reviews.
Does it really work, though? Almost every weight-loss supplement that I’ve reviewed has multiple fat burning ingredients, but this product only has one – Conjugated Linoleic Acid.
Note: Max Potency CLA is a supplement, and shouldn’t be used as an alternative to medicine.
Pros
- 100% vegan
- No stimulants
- Comes with a money-back guarantee of 90 days after purchase
- Highly rated online reviews
Cons
- A few users experienced mild bloating when using the product
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Ingredients and Nutritional Information
Max Potency CLA is 100% vegan, making all of its ingredients derived from other sources that don’t use animal products. The list of components in Max Potency that actually help you with weight management isn’t that long. In fact, there’s only one – CLA.
There is an upside and downside to this. On the one hand, having just one ingredient might indicate its effectiveness. However, some people might want other components in their supplement that aids weight loss in other ways, such as appetite suppression or energy enhancement.
Each serving of Max Potency CLA contains …
At least 95% CLA derived from1250mg of safflower oil (non-GMO)
Other Ingredients:
Kosher Gelatin
Vegetable Glycerin (non-GMO)
Carob
Purified Water
Note: Max Potency CLA is not manufactured with fish, eggs, milk, shellfish, peanuts, gluten, soy, tree nuts, or wheat. It’s also produced within a 3rd party facility that’s registered and audited cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant to ensure a high-quality product.
Max Potency CLA Benefits And Effectiveness
Let’s talk about CLA and what it does exactly. After testing it myself and incorporating it into my exercise and diet regime this past couple of months, I definitely noticed a positive change in how much weight I lost. It’s not surprising that Max Potency CLA’s online customer reviews are so highly rated.
Still not convinced? Here’s the scientific evidence to back these claims up:
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
CLA burns your body fat to aid in weight loss. This is the most well-researched benefit that you can get from CLA. Numerous studies done on humans show that daily doses between 3 and 4 grams can help you build up muscle mass and encourage fat loss among obese, overweight, and healthy participants (1, 2, 3).
CLA targets weight loss through several methods. To get technical for a second, some studies report that one of CLA’s isomers reacts to PPAR-gamma receptors and inhibits genes that are responsible for fat production and fat storage (4). In other words, CLA can help prevent you from gaining more weight.
CLA’s fat-burning quality also has another potential benefit. Since it helps reduce fat storage, it can boost your liver’s performance and limit any fatty deposits that cause diseases like atherosclerosis. On top of this, CLA can also improve the energy expenditure of your body, which helps you burn off weight faster than you put on (5).
Many human studies also attribute CLA with appetite suppression because it increases your satiety or feelings of fullness (6). The main theory behind this feature is 10, 12 CLA’s ability to decrease the level of hunger-signal factors in our brain’s hypothalamus region (7).
CLA may help boost the immune system and fight inflammation. Conjugated linoleic acid, much like other substances with anti-inflammatory capabilities, can help the systems in our body in more ways than one. Research suggests that CLA has a role in aiding our body’s immune and inflammatory function as well as boosting the liver’s health to promote detoxification (8, 9).
CLAs are also known to bolster our immune system and help us build resistance against inflammatory disorders, infections, and other imbalances in the immune system such as allergies or autoimmune diseases (10).
One study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA’s anti-inflammatory qualities were able to reduce the inflammation in test mice that have arthritis (11). It might also help people who suffer from allergies and asthma since it reduces excessive airway inflammation (12). The evidence in these experiments suggests that CLA can potentially benefit individuals with other inflammatory conditions.
With that said, this supplement should never be used as a replacement for any medicine that you might currently be taking. And it’s always best to consult with a health professional before you start implementing a new supplement in your daily routine.
How Much Should I Take?
Several human trials have shown that the 3- to 4-gram doses of CLA daily are the most effective. But currently, there is no general consensus on the optimum dosage for our diet. The average amount of CLA Americans consume in their regular diet is ranged between 152mg and 212mg daily, but studies show that this amount isn’t enough to provide noticeable benefits (13, 14)
Sports Research suggests that you take one tablet 1 to 3 times a day, which is 1-3 grams of CLA at the least. You can also ask a qualified health professional for their recommendation.
Best Time To Take Max Potency CLA
Sports Research recommends that you take one capsule 30 minutes after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This way, you get the full benefits 24/7.
Keep in mind, though, that this isn’t a miracle medicine that magically shaves off all your excess pounds. Taking CLA supplements doesn’t replace the results that you get with proper diet and exercise; it just enhances it.
Why Sports Research?
Sports Research began in 1980. And it’s a family-owned and operated brand that develops fitness products that aim to complement healthy and active lifestyles.
This brand also meets the level of quality set by local standards. For instance, Max Potency CLA is cGMP compliant, IGEN Non-GMO tested, and certified gluten-free to ensure that you’re getting a safe product with quality components.
Drawbacks
Some online reviewers have reported getting mild nausea and an upset stomach, but these side effects are very rare. The people who felt these side effects also noted that they typically subsided after a few weeks. Presently, there are no reported serious health risks and side effects that are caused by CLA supplementation.
I recommend that you start off with smaller daily doses to test the waters and see if you get any of these symptoms.
How Much Does It Cost?
MAX Potency CLA is offered directly from Sports Research’s website for $25, which has 180 servings. You can also get a better bargain on Amazon, where it’s priced slightly lower at $22.95.
Review Breakdown Of Max Potency CLA
- Effectiveness – 8.5/10 Stars
- Ingredients – 9/10 Stars
- Taste – 7.5/10 (capsules)
- Price – 9/10 Stars
The Takeaway
If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly CLA supplement, Max Potency is the best you’re going to get. It features 95% CLA with every capsule (made with vegetable cellulose), and it’s derived from safflower oil (non-GMO).
Max Potency has one of the highest CLA to ingredient ratios in the market. Every serving gives at least 1000 mg of CLA, and unlike some brands, it doesn’t have any fillers or extraneous oils. All you’re getting is pure CLA with stabilizers and binders to extend its shelf life.
Lastly, it also comes with a generous 90-day guarantee to get your money back if the product doesn’t work for you. And based on my own experience as well as the other ones you’ll read online, it’s worth taking the time and trying it out for yourself.
References:
1-Leah D Whigham, Abigail C Watras, Dale A Schoeller, Efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 85, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 1203–1211, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1203
2-Jean-Michel Gaullier, Johan Halse, Kjetil Høye, Knut Kristiansen, Hans Fagertun, Hogne Vik, Ola Gudmundsen, Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for 1 y reduces body fat mass in healthy overweight humans, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 79, Issue 6, June 2004, Pages 1118–1125, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/79.6.1118
3-Gaullier JM, Halse J, Høivik HO, et al. Six months supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid induces regional-specific fat mass decreases in overweight and obese. Br J Nutr. 2007;97(3):550-60.
4-Lehnen TE, Da silva MR, Camacho A, Marcadenti A, Lehnen AM. A review on effects of conjugated linoleic fatty acid (CLA) upon body composition and energetic metabolism. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:36.
5-House RL, Cassady JP, Eisen EJ, Mcintosh MK, Odle J. Conjugated linoleic acid evokes de-lipidation through the regulation of genes controlling lipid metabolism in adipose and liver tissue. Obes Rev. 2005;6(3):247-58.
6-Coleman H, Quinn P, Clegg ME. Medium-chain triglycerides and conjugated linoleic acids in beverage form increase satiety and reduce food intake in humans. Nutr Res. 2016;36(6):526-33.
7, 13-Kennedy A, Martinez K, Schmidt S, Mandrup S, Lapoint K, Mcintosh M. Antiobesity mechanisms of action of conjugated linoleic acid. J Nutr Biochem. 2010;21(3):171-9.
8-Dilzer A, Park Y. Implication of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in human health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2012;52(6):488-513.
9-Baraldi FG, Vicentini TM, Teodoro BG, et al. The combination of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and extra virgin olive oil increases mitochondrial and body metabolism and prevents CLA-associated insulin resistance and liver hypertrophy in C57Bl/6 mice. J Nutr Biochem. 2016;28:147-54.
10-O’shea M, Bassaganya-riera J, Mohede IC. Immunomodulatory properties of conjugated linoleic acid. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79(6 Suppl):1199S-1206S.
11-Huebner SM, Campbell JP, Butz DE, Fulmer TG, Gendron-fitzpatrick A, Cook ME. Individual isomers of conjugated linoleic acid reduce inflammation associated with established collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice. J Nutr. 2010;140(8):1454-61.
12-Macredmond R, Singhera G, Attridge S, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid improves airway hyper-reactivity in overweight mild asthmatics. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010;40(7):1071-8.
14-Jutzeler van Wijlen, R.P. (2011), Long‐term conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in humans – effects on body composition and safety. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol., 113: 1077-1094. doi:10.1002/ejlt.201100130
