Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Body Composition Parameters in Aged and Cachectic Mice

Research for this thesis consisted of three parts; determining CLA effects on 1) whole animal body composition in aged mice, 2) whole animal body composition parameters in a murine model of cachexia, 3) specific muscles, adipose depots, and organs as well as the effects on parameters of muscle degradation in aged mice. The first study indicates CLA decreased fat mass and increased whole animal protein mass in aged mice. In the second study, infection resulted in changes in carcass water, fat, and protein. CLA caused an increase in protein mass in the controls but was unable to increase protein mass in cachectic animals. In the third study, no changes in muscle weights were observed with CLA and there was no effect on parameters of muscle degradation. These results demonstrate the complex nature of CLA and the need for further investigation