Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Role of Conjugated Linoleic Acids in Cancer

Mohammad Asif

Department of pharmacy, GRD(PG)IMT, Dehradun

Abstract

Cancers are the second leading cause of deaths, among both women and men. Breast cancer is the malignancy most frequently diagnosed in women. It is also the second most common cause of cancer deaths among women. Although the etiology of most cases of this disease is not known, risk factors include a variety of nutritional factors. The amount of fat consumed in the diet and the quantity and quality of fatty acids (FAs) are especially crucial. Among FAs to which great importance in modification of cancer risk is recognized are conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). The CLAs are a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (LA), with a conjugated double bond system in the carbon chain. The main natural source of CLA is milk and dairy products and meat of ruminants, in which cis-9, trans-11 octadecadienoic acid (rumenic acid) occurs in the largest quantities, constituting over 90% of the total pool of CLA. Another important isomer is trans-10, cis-12 octadecadienoic acid, which occurs with rumenic acid in dietary supplements, usually in the ratio 1:1. Their possible health promoting effects in obesity, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), osteoporosis, diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation, and various types of cancer, especially breast cancer [1]. The CLAs are octadecadienoic acids (18:2).

Keywords:

Conjugated Linoleic