Conjugated Linoleic Acid Does Not Improve Insulin Tolerance in Mice *

Objective : To determine if the addition or removal of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) would alter insulin tolerances in mice from two genetic lines. Research Methods and Procedures : High metabolic rate (MH) and low metabolic rate (ML) mice were assigned to consume 1) a control diet ad libitum, 2) a control diet at a restricted intake, or 3) a diet containing 1% CLA ad libitum. After 9 weeks, an insulin tolerance test was conducted, and a portion of the mice were killed. All remaining mice consumed the control diet ad libitum. Insulin tolerance tests were conducted 11 and 32 days after the diet change, and mice were killed 3 days after each test. Body fatness, fat pad weights, and serum insulin concentrations of mice were determined at each time‐point. Two follow‐up experiments were also conducted. Results : Restricted mice had insulin sensitivities not different than control mice. CLA‐fed MH mice in experiment 1 were resistant ( p < 0.001) to insulin on each day measured. CLA‐fed ML mice were slightly resistant ( p = 0.08) to exogenous insulin on day 0 of recovery and not different from control mice on day 11 or 32. Glucose response to insulin in MH mice fed CLA in experiments 2 or 3 did not differ from control mice. Discussion : Mice fed CLA did not have improved insulin tolerances compared with control mice. In some cases, dietary CLA may cause insulin resistance. MH mice seem more sensitive to CLA than ML mice.