Safflower oil and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) were equally as effective when they were tested on a group of 35 women, all of whom were considered to be obese with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Women who took safflower oil supplements for 16 weeks lost between two and four pounds of fat around the trunk, while CLA ‘significantly reduced’ the BMI score, and helped the women lose nearly four pounds, over the same period.

The women were told not to diet, or exercise more than they usually did, during the 32 weeks of the trial. The research was carried out by Ohio State University whose Martha Belury, and lead researcher, commented: “I never would have imagined such a finding. This study is the first to show that such a modest amount of (oils) may have a profound effect on body composition in women.”

(Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009; in print).