{
  "dataset": "cla-cost-by-brand",
  "title": "CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) Supplements Compared — cost per gram of active CLA per day",
  "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/cla/best-overall/",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), CLA Cost Comparison",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-20",
  "methodology": "costPerGramCla = price / (days-of-supply x active CLA grams per day). \"Active CLA grams per day\" uses each product's disclosed activeMgPerServing when the label headline overstates true CLA content (e.g. a \"1000mg\" softgel that is only 740mg actual CLA), otherwise the label-stated CLA mg. \"verdict\": studied (active CLA/day is at/above the ~3.2 g/day meta-analysis median dose from Whigham 2007), underdosed (active CLA/day is below 3.2 g). \"aboveNoBenefitLine\": true when active CLA/day exceeds 3.4 g/day, the dose above which Blankson 2000 (PMID 11110851) found no additional fat-loss benefit in its dose-response arms (trial range 1.7–6.8 g/day). EVIDENCE CONTEXT (YMYL — the human fat-loss effect is small and comes with a real metabolic-risk trade-off, not a \"fat burner\" claim): two independent meta-analyses found a small fat-loss effect that plateaus — Whigham 2007 (PMID 17490954, 18 RCTs): 0.09 kg/week vs placebo at the 3.2 g/day median dose (P<0.001), plateauing by ~6 months; Onakpoya 2012 (PMID 21990002, 7 RCTs): -1.33 kg fat mass (95% CI -1.79 to -0.86) but concluded clinical relevance is uncertain. Several RCTs found CLA — including the t10,c12 isomer specifically, and in one case a 50:50 retail-typical blend — worsened insulin sensitivity, raised glycemia, and lowered HDL cholesterol in obese/metabolic-syndrome and type-2-diabetic populations (Riserus 2002 x2, PMID 12196420 and 12370214; Moloney 2004, PMID 15447895). Two case reports document rare but severe hepatotoxicity from CLA self-medication, one requiring liver transplant (Ramos 2009, PMID 18720003; Nortadas 2012, PMID 22345346). This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA; these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.",
  "headline": {
    "productsCompared": 5,
    "studiedDose": 2,
    "underdosed": 3,
    "studiedDoseG": 3.2,
    "noBenefitAboveG": 3.4,
    "cheapestPerGramCla": 0.0799,
    "cheapestPerGramClaBrand": "BulkSupplements.com",
    "cheapestAtStudiedDoseBrand": "Zazzee",
    "note": "The cheapest cost per gram overall is a product that is underdosed at its LABEL-DEFAULT serving (needs extra softgels to reach the studied range). Among products that reach the ~3.2 g/day studied dose at their label-default serving, compare separately — see cheapestAtStudiedDoseBrand."
  },
  "columns": [
    "brand",
    "product",
    "slug",
    "form",
    "servingSize",
    "labelMgPerDay",
    "activeMgPerDay",
    "hasActiveGap",
    "gramsPerDay",
    "servings",
    "price",
    "costPerDay",
    "costPerGramCla",
    "verdict",
    "aboveNoBenefitLine",
    "thirdParty"
  ],
  "units": {
    "gramsPerDay": "g active CLA",
    "price": "USD",
    "costPerDay": "USD/day",
    "costPerGramCla": "USD per gram of active CLA per day"
  },
  "citations": [
    {
      "claim": "At the 3.2 g/day median dose, CLA produced 0.09 +/- 0.08 kg/week fat loss vs placebo (P<0.001), plateauing toward an asymptote by ~2 years.",
      "source": "Whigham LD, Watras AC, Schoeller DA. 2007, Am J Clin Nutr",
      "pmid": "17490954"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Meta-analysis of 7 RCTs >=6 months found -1.33 kg fat mass vs placebo, but concluded clinical relevance is uncertain.",
      "source": "Onakpoya IJ, et al. 2012, Eur J Nutr",
      "pmid": "21990002"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Dose-response RCT found no additional fat-loss benefit above 3.4 g/day CLA.",
      "source": "Blankson H, et al. 2000, J Nutr",
      "pmid": "11110851"
    },
    {
      "claim": "t10,c12 CLA isomer increased insulin resistance 19% and glycemia 4%, and reduced HDL 4%, vs placebo in obese men with metabolic syndrome.",
      "source": "Riserus U, Arner P, Brismar K, Vessby B. 2002, Diabetes Care",
      "pmid": "12196420"
    },
    {
      "claim": "A 50:50 CLA isomer blend (retail-typical) increased fasting glucose 6.3% and reduced insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics.",
      "source": "Moloney F, et al. 2004, Am J Clin Nutr",
      "pmid": "15447895"
    }
  ],
  "products": [
    {
      "brand": "BulkSupplements.com",
      "product": "CLA Softgels 1000mg",
      "slug": "bulksupplements-cla-softgels",
      "form": "safflower-derived",
      "servingSize": "2 softgels",
      "labelMgPerDay": 2000,
      "activeMgPerDay": 2000,
      "hasActiveGap": false,
      "gramsPerDay": 2,
      "servings": 150,
      "price": 23.97,
      "costPerDay": 0.16,
      "costPerGramCla": 0.0799,
      "verdict": "underdosed",
      "aboveNoBenefitLine": false,
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Nutricost",
      "product": "CLA 800mg",
      "slug": "nutricost-cla-800mg",
      "form": "safflower-derived (~50:50 isomer blend)",
      "servingSize": "3 softgels",
      "labelMgPerDay": 2400,
      "activeMgPerDay": 2400,
      "hasActiveGap": false,
      "gramsPerDay": 2.4,
      "servings": 80,
      "price": 16.95,
      "costPerDay": 0.21,
      "costPerGramCla": 0.0883,
      "verdict": "underdosed",
      "aboveNoBenefitLine": false,
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Zazzee",
      "product": "High Potency CLA 3600",
      "slug": "zazzee-cla-3600",
      "form": "safflower-derived, standardized (~50:50 isomer blend)",
      "servingSize": "3 softgels",
      "labelMgPerDay": 3600,
      "activeMgPerDay": 3600,
      "hasActiveGap": false,
      "gramsPerDay": 3.6,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 19.97,
      "costPerDay": 0.33,
      "costPerGramCla": 0.0925,
      "verdict": "studied",
      "aboveNoBenefitLine": true,
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Sports Research",
      "product": "CLA 1250mg (Tonalin)",
      "slug": "sports-research-cla-1250mg",
      "form": "Tonalin (safflower-derived), ~95% CLA, ~50:50 isomer blend",
      "servingSize": "3 softgels (1 softgel 3x daily)",
      "labelMgPerDay": 3750,
      "activeMgPerDay": 3750,
      "hasActiveGap": false,
      "gramsPerDay": 3.75,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 26.95,
      "costPerDay": 0.45,
      "costPerGramCla": 0.1198,
      "verdict": "studied",
      "aboveNoBenefitLine": true,
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    },
    {
      "brand": "The Vitamin Shoppe",
      "product": "Tonalin CLA 1000mg",
      "slug": "vitamin-shoppe-tonalin-cla-1000mg",
      "form": "Tonalin (safflower-derived)",
      "servingSize": "3 softgels (1 softgel 3x daily)",
      "labelMgPerDay": 3000,
      "activeMgPerDay": 2220,
      "hasActiveGap": true,
      "gramsPerDay": 2.22,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 34.97,
      "costPerDay": 0.58,
      "costPerGramCla": 0.2625,
      "verdict": "underdosed",
      "aboveNoBenefitLine": false,
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    }
  ]
}